1-billion-person data breach in India

[shmu26]

Over a billion Indian citizens may be vulnerable to identity theft and intrusions of privacy after a newspaper sting uncovered a security breach in the country's vast biometric database, which contains the personal data of almost every citizen.

The Tribune newspaper said its reporters were able to access names, email addresses, phone numbers and postal codes by typing in 12-digit unique identification numbers of people in the government's database, after paying an individual about $8. For another $5, the newspaper said, the individual offered reporters software to print out unique identification cards, called Aadhaar cards, that can be used to access various government services including fuel subsidies and free school meals.


The individual was part of a group that had gained access to the database through former workers who were initially tasked with making the cards, the Tribune reported. Several groups were part of this scheme, the newspaper said. The Washington Post has not independently verified the report.

Aadhaar Breach Risks Identity Theft For 1 Billion Indians: Foreign Media

 

[BearHug]

UIDAI[Authority related to this Concern] has confirmed that this is not true. They had also registered an FIR against the Editor of that Newspaper...

 

[R2D2]

UIDAI[Authority related to this Concern] has confirmed that this is not true. They had also registered an FIR against the Editor of that Newspaper...

That's a thing to put the guys (the Press, who blew the cover off the vulnerabilities) on the defensive. Nobody has independently audited the Aadhar system for security vulnerabilities. All we have is these bureaucrats' words to go on. I take them with more than pinch of salt.

For those MT members not from India:

FIR - First Information Report, a report filed by an individual or other entities including Corporates informing the cops of what could be a cognisable offence under the law. The FIR system is followed in some countries of the Commonwealth (countries formerly ruled by and a part of the British Raj/Empire) in Asia.

Aadhar - A 12 digit number assigned to each individual and tied to his/her biometrics (fingerprint and iris scan). It serves as a proof of identity not citizenship. It has helped the Federal Govt. to identify 'ghost' individuals claiming benefits/subsidies, among other things. Over a billion people have been covered under this unique identification # scheme.