How safe is your Aadhaar data?
It’s a question which has come up again after the recent arrest of a software engineer in Bengaluru, for allegedly hacking and accessing Aadhaar data through a eKYC verification mobile app.
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This Android app (now removed from the Play Store) has been reportedly downloaded by 1 lakh users. But worry not – we’ve got you covered with a few steps and guidelines that ensure your Aadhaar data is safe, and you aren’t tricked into sharing confidential details with anyone.
Use the Right App
For an Android user, it is important they download the right app. There’s only one app available on the Google Play app store which has been signed off by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) — the team behind Aadhaar.
Also Read: What’s mAadhaar for Android, and How Does It Work?
It’s called mAadhaar and as you can see below, it’s the original app that lets you do multiple things by registering your Aadhaar number to the profile. You’re also asked to create a 4-digit pass code that is only accessible to you.
- Download the app
- Register account with password
- Put your 12-digit Aadhaar number
- Confirm via OTP received on mobile number registered with Aadhaar
The app is available on Google Play Store (supports Android 4.4 KitKat and above). But double-check and ensure that you download the app made by UIDAI, as there are multiple fake apps floating around.
Don’t Share Details on Unsafe Websites
Basic and oft-repeated, but very important reminder — https is safe, not http. Most websites carry the tag https before the URL (as seen below), and that’s a very important to consider while browsing websites and sharing information on them.
Most confidential websites like banking, shopping (payment gateway) sites carry this badge.
HTTPS stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure, which ensures the data is only transmitted between the source of the URL to the destination, and nobody else can read it.
If you end up on a website which doesn’t carry the https stamp, then do not share personal information like bank account number, ATM PIN, and email ID.
Don’t Share Details With Strangers
Again, it goes without saying that anybody who calls you asking you for your Aadhaar number or bank details, is definitely not the official representative.
He or she is only asking you about these details to coax you into giving him access to your money. And with the linking of Aadhaar to PAN, sharing Aadhaar number is as dangerous as sharing an ATM PIN code.
Link Your Mobile Number With Aadhaar
It is important that you update your Aadhaar details at an authorised Aadhaar centre and link your mobile number to your Aadhaar number.
That way, you will get alerts if your Aadhaar account is opened. Even to open it yourself to update details, you will require a one-time pin (OTP), which will be sent to your mobile number. This will help authenticate your Aadhaar details.
Lock Your Biometric Data
Aadhaar maintains two databases. One has your basic demographic information and the other has your biometric data (fingerprints and iris scans). This can be locked by going to the Aadhaar site with a PIN code.
That way, even if someone uses your Aadhaar number illegally, it cannot be used to authenticate anything unless the biometrics are unlocked.
Yes, it's an extra step you will have to take in order to authenticate transactions – you will have to first unlock biometrics before any device can verify your fingerprints or iris scans (such as when opening a new bank account or applying for a new SIM card).
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