A method for encoding data to be stored in a memory, including: encoding the data to be stored in memory with an error correcting code (ECC) as first encoded data, wherein the ECC is configured to have a minimum Hamming distance of at least 4t+1 in order to correct up to t bit errors and detect up to 3t bit errors where t≥1; determining a Hamming weight of the first encoded data; encoding the determined Hamming weight, wherein for all higher Hamming weights the encoding should have at least 2t+1 bit-positions that change from 1 to 0 per Hamming weight; concatenating the first encoded data and the encoded Hamming weight as concatenated data; and storing the concatenated data in the memory.