SubscriberWrites: Financial transactions can be secured by locking Aadhaar biometrics

It's important to note that fingerprint scans on remote devices for insurance, phone connections & even banks should be considered compromised, writes Achint Satsangi.

By
Achint Satasangi
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Rupee | Reuters file photo

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In the digital era, safeguarding personal information is crucial. Aadhaar, India’s unique identification system, plays a significant role in financial transactions. To protect yourself from potential fraud, it’s important to secure your biometric data. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to lock your biometrics in the Aadhaar setup, adding an extra layer of security to your financial transactions.
Understanding the Risks:
If you have provided your fingerprints for purposes other than Aadhaar, such as at your workplace for attendance, in large residential complexes for entry and exit, or in private areas, it is prudent to assume that your biometrics may have been compromised.
Exceptions to this assumption include specific scenarios where the security of your biometric data is more robust. Visa offices operated by professional agencies like VFS, as well as biometric checks conducted within bank branches, are among the exceptions. However, it’s important to note that fingerprint scans on remote devices for insurance, phone connections, and even banks should be considered as compromised. These devices may not provide the same level of security as the Aadhaar system, making your biometric data vulnerable to potential misuse.
Furthermore, if you have ever provided your fingerprints on paper for government contracts or other purposes, it is crucial to acknowledge the possibility of compromise. In addition to the fingerprints used for Aadhaar, any fingerprints shared on paper can be scanned and potentially misused by unauthorised individuals. This highlights the importance of exercising caution and being mindful of the security of your biometric data in such cases.
The Aadhaar Portal’s Clarification:
The Aadhaar official website clarifies that just as a bank requires your signature, debit card, PIN, or OTP for withdrawing money, your Aadhaar-linked bank account requires either your fingerprint, iris scan, or OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number. This means that your bank account can be accessed and money can be withdrawn using your biometric data.
Credit must be given to the Aadhaar architects for their proactive approach in recognizing and addressing the potential risks associated with biometric data compromise. They have taken commendable steps to protect individuals and their financial transactions.
The Solution: Locking Your Biometrics:
To enhance your financial security, the Aadhaar system allows you to lock your biometrics. By following a simple process, you can disable the option of using your biometrics for withdrawing money from your bank account.

 

Locking Your Biometrics – Step by Step:

  • Visit the Aadhaar Portal: Access the official Aadhaar portal at https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/ and log in using the OTP (One-Time Password) method.
  • Navigate to Lock/Unlock Biometrics: Once logged in, find the “Lock/Unlock Biometrics” section on the portal. This feature enables you to manage the status of your biometric authentication.
  • Select Lock and Continue: Within the Lock/Unlock Biometrics section, choose the “Lock” option. Confirm your selection to proceed.
  • Biometrics Successfully Locked: Congratulations! You have successfully locked your biometrics. This ensures that your fingerprint and iris scan cannot be used for withdrawing money from your Aadhaar-linked bank account.

Important Considerations:

While locking your biometrics provides enhanced security, it’s important to note that this action restricts the use of your fingerprints at Aadhaar centres. Instead, you can opt for identification via OTP sent to your registered mobile number. If necessary, you can temporarily unlock your biometrics for specific purposes. The system will automatically lock your biometrics again after a set time period.

Conclusion:

Given the rising risk of financial fraud, it is crucial to proactively protect your personal information, especially in Aadhaar-based financial transactions. By locking your biometrics through the Aadhaar portal, you can safeguard your financial savings and minimise the chances of unauthorised access. We strongly encourage everyone to utilise this essential security feature and lock their biometrics if there is even the slightest chance of compromise.

For more information and detailed instructions on locking your biometrics, please visit the official Aadhaar website: https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/

(Note: The links provided in this article were accurate at the time of writing. Please ensure they are still valid.)

Some more links of frauds using biometrics and Aadhaar:

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/haryana-online-fraudsters-copy-thumb-impressions-from-sale-deeds-use-aadhaar-to-steal-money-8304775/

https://www.thelallantop.com/technology/post/scammers-duped-a-lady-by-using-aadhaar-biometric-data-pnb-faridabad

These pieces are being published as they have been received – they have not been edited/fact-checked by ThePrint.