Dark Web Exposes Aadhaar Data of 81.5 Crore Indians, Report Says
A shocking report has revealed that the personal data of 81.5 crore Indians, including their Aadhaar numbers, names, addresses, phone numbers, and email IDs, is being sold on the dark web for a mere $1,500. The report, published by CyberNews, a cybersecurity news platform, claims that the data was leaked from a third-party database that was using Aadhaar data for verification purposes.
The report says that the data leak was discovered by a CyberNews research team, who found an advertisement on a popular dark web forum, offering to sell the data of 81.5 crore Indians. The seller claimed that the data was obtained from a third-party company that was using Aadhaar data to provide KYC (Know Your Customer) services to various businesses.
The seller also provided a sample of the data, which contained 100 entries of personal information, including Aadhaar numbers, names, addresses, phone numbers, and email IDs. The CyberNews team verified the authenticity of the data by cross-checking it with publicly available sources.
The report warns that the data leak poses a serious threat to the privacy and security of millions of Indians, who could be targeted by identity thieves, scammers, hackers, and other cybercriminals. The report also urges the Indian government and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which manages the Aadhaar system, to investigate the matter and take appropriate actions to protect the data of Indian citizens.
The UIDAI has not yet commented on the report. However, in the past, it has denied any breaches or leaks of Aadhaar data, and claimed that the system is secure and robust. The UIDAI has also stated that Aadhaar data is encrypted and stored in secure servers, and that no one can access or misuse it without biometric authentication.
However, this is not the first time that Aadhaar data has been allegedly leaked or exposed online. In 2018, a report by The Tribune revealed that anonymous sellers on WhatsApp were offering access to Aadhaar data for as low as Rs 500. In 2019, another report by HuffPost India exposed how a software patch could bypass Aadhaar’s security features and generate fake Aadhaar cards. In 2020, a report by TechCrunch revealed that an unsecured web server was exposing Aadhaar data of over 6.7 lakh users.
These incidents raise serious questions about the security and privacy of Aadhaar data, which is linked to various essential services and benefits in India. Aadhaar is the world’s largest biometric identification system, with over 1.28 billion enrolled users as of March 2020. It is mandatory for availing various government schemes and subsidies, as well as for filing taxes, opening bank accounts, getting SIM cards, and more.
The CyberNews report suggests that the Indian government should take immediate steps to secure Aadhaar data and prevent further leaks or breaches. It also recommends that Indian citizens should monitor their online accounts and credit reports for any suspicious activities or transactions, and report any cases of identity theft or fraud to the authorities.
