Viral Message Asking For Thumb Impression Won’t Steal Your Data

Relax! Putting your finger on the screen will not lead to your data being stolen.

CLAIM

A message is circulating on social media with the claim that your biometric data can be accessed if you put your thumb on Whatsapp messages which ask you to unlock Independence Day and Happy New Year related messages. As per the message, the thumb impression can steal the data linked to PAN and Aadhaar cards, and banks.

The message reads: “To all my friends, be careful of some msgs in WhatsApp that asks you to put your thumb in a screen to unlock a msg like happy Independence day or happy new year... Beware of these msgs and don't put your thumb anywhere. Scanning your thumb impression will give the app owners access to your biometric data, this is very serious as your Aadhar biometric is linked to PAN, banks etc.. be very careful and spread the message !! cyber crime on the rise now. #TRAI”

Several social media users have shared the message on Twitter with the same claim.

access to your biometric data, this is very serious as your Aadhar biometric is linked to PAN, banks etc.. be very careful and spread the message !! cyber crime on the rise now.@CyberDost @cyberpeacecorps @cyber #TRAI

— Himanshu Verma (@Himanshu_Verma6) August 8, 2019

Scanning your thumb impression will give the app owners access to your biometric data, this is very serious as your Aadhar biometric is linked to PAN, banks etc.. be very careful and spread the message !! cyber crime on the rise now. #TRAI

— दादा जी, (@Babajee98) August 7, 2019

The Quint received a query about the claim made in the message via its Whatsapp helpline.

WHAT WE FOUND OUT

We spoke to cyber threat analyst Jiten Jain who said that the message is completely fake.

“Technically speaking, by just touching on the message, the application cannot steal your biometric data and definitely not details of PAN and Aadhaar card.”

We also found out that a similar rendition of the message accompanied by a link had gone viral in 2018. But, when you click on the link in the message, it leads you to a page shown in the image below and welcomes you with patriotic music.

This thumbprint scanning image on the site is a GIF and the website runs on a script that just waits for you to touch in a specific area to take action.

(With inputs from SM HoaxSlayer)

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