Aadhaar data leak of 81.5 million Indians: Personal Data
On October 9, 2023, a hacker with the alias “pwn0001” posted a thread on Breach Forums, a marketplace for stolen data, advertising access to a database containing the personal information of 81.5 million Indian citizens. This includes Aadhaar numbers, passport numbers, names, phone numbers, and addresses. Get more Information in this News Blog.
The leak was initially discovered by Resecurity, an American cybersecurity firm. Resecurity’s investigators confirmed the authenticity of the data by cross-referencing it with publicly available information.
The Aadhaar data leak is one of the largest and most significant data breaches in Indian history. It has raised serious concerns about the security of India’s biometric identification system and the potential for identity theft and other forms of fraud.
How the leak happened
The exact source of the leak is still unknown, but it is believed to have originated from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The ICMR collected the data from COVID-19 test reports submitted by Indian citizens.
The hacker claims to have obtained the data by exploiting a vulnerability in the ICMR’s website. However, the ICMR has denied that there was any breach of its systems.
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What data was leaked?
The leaked data includes a wide range of personally identifiable information, including:
- Aadhaar numbers
- Passport numbers
- Names
- Phone numbers
- Addresses
- Dates of birth
- Genders
The leak also includes some sensitive medical information, such as COVID-19 test results and vaccination status.
Impact of the leak
The Aadhaar data leak has far-reaching implications for Indian citizens. Aadhaar numbers are used for a wide range of purposes in India, including accessing government services, banking, and telecommunications services.
The leak could make it easier for criminals to commit identity theft, financial fraud, and other crimes. It could also be used to target Indian citizens with phishing attacks and other forms of cybercrime.
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Steps to protect yourself
Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself from the Aadhaar data leak:
- Change your Aadhaar password and PIN immediately.
- Enable two-factor authentication for your Aadhaar account.
- Be careful about clicking on links in emails and SMS messages, especially those that claim to be from government agencies or banks.
- Use a strong password manager to generate and store unique passwords for all of your online accounts.
- Monitor your credit report and bank statements regularly for any suspicious activity.
- What the government is doing
The Indian government has taken a number of steps to respond to the Aadhaar data leak. The government has launched an investigation into the leak and has ordered all government agencies to review their security measures.
The government has also advised Indian citizens to take steps to protect themselves from identity theft and other forms of fraud.
Conclusion – Personal Data of 81.5 Million Indians Leaked
The Aadhaar data leak is a major security breach that has put the personal information of millions of Indian citizens at risk. It is important to take steps to protect yourself from identity theft and other forms of fraud.
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FAQs (Aadhaar data leak)
Q: What is Aadhaar?
Aadhaar is India’s biometric identification system. It is a 12-digit number that is assigned to each Indian citizen based on their fingerprints and iris scans.
Q: How did the Aadhaar data leak happen?
The exact source of the leak is still unknown, but it is believed to have originated from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The ICMR collected the data from COVID-19 test reports submitted by Indian citizens.
Q: What data was leaked?
The leaked data includes a wide range of personally identifiable information, including Aadhaar numbers, passport numbers, names, phone numbers, addresses, dates of birth, and genders. The leak also includes some sensitive medical information, such as COVID-19 test results and vaccination status.
Q: What are the implications of the leak?
The Aadhaar data leak could make it easier for criminals to commit identity theft, financial fraud, and other crimes. It could also be used to target Indian citizens with phishing attacks and other forms of cybercrime.
Q: What can I do to protect myself?
You can protect yourself from the Aadhaar data leak by changing your Aadhaar password and PIN immediately, enabling two-factor authentication for your Aadhaar account, being careful about clicking on links in emails and SMS messages, using a strong password manager, and monitoring your credit report and bank statements regularly for any suspicious activity.