Ways to Protect Your Aadhaar: Aadhaar, the 12-digit unique identification number provided by UIDAI, has become part and parcel of every Indian citizen’s identity. It is used for taking loans or subsidies, opening bank accounts, etc. But with increased dependence, there arises the need to make more protection from misuse or stealing of details. Below are provided some useful tips to secure your Aadhaar and keep it out of misuse.
UIDAI offers the service to lock or unlock your Aadhaar number. Your Aadhaar won’t be utilized for verification if you have locked it, unless and until you unlock it again. This may be useful if you don’t use Aadhaar very frequently and don’t want unauthorized individuals using Aadhaar on your behalf. You can do this via the mAadhaar application or UIDAI website.
Instead of revealing your full Aadhaar number, you may download a masked Aadhaar from the UIDAI website. This one conceals the first 8 and shows only the last 4. This is ideal for KYC scenarios when full Aadhaar data is not needed.
To safeguard your fingerprint or iris information from abuse, activate biometric locking using the UIDAI portal or mAadhaar app. After locking, there is no chance of biometric authentication without your permission.
Do not use public Wi-Fi to view or share Aadhaar data. Sensitive data can be easily intercepted over an open network by attackers.
Don’t post your Aadhaar number or picture of your Aadhaar card on social media. This can lead to financial fraud or identity theft.
Always ask why Aadhaar is needed and to whom information will go. Organisations must register with UIDAI in order to gather Aadhaar.
Your Aadhaar is as personal as your bank information. Keep it secure. These measures restrict the possibility of identity fraud and secure your sensitive data in the Internet age.
Also Read: Is Linking PAN with Aadhaar Essential? Deadline, Penalty, and Step-by-Step Process