Prevent Aadhaar misuse by locking your biometrics

Yash Aryan

August 14, 2020

Right from the time when Aadhaar was introduced, it has raised concerns for security and privacy reasons. India's most crucial identity verification document has faced scrutiny from many security experts with incidents starting from software hacks to database compromises. But now, you can prevent the misuse of your Aadhaar card by locking your biometrics. This new security feature is a move by the Government of India to provide residents with control of their data. When you lock your Aadhaar, you will be securing your 12 digit Aadhaar number and your biometrics like fingerprint scan and retina scan. You would not be able to use your 12 digit UID, UID Token, and ANCS; instead, you'll use a 16 digit Virtual ID (VID) for all forms of authentication. However, for specific reasons, if you would like to use those locked credentials, you can temporarily unlock your data. You can lock/unlock your biometrics on the UIDAI website.

Abridged fromLiveMint