How to Prevent Misuse of Your Aadhaar Card?

The Aadhaar card is a unique identification document issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to residents of India. Aadhaar’s integration into daily life has simplified and standardised authentication for various purposes. 

Aadhaar protection is essential to prevent identity theft. For example, if you use your Aadhaar number to buy a new SIM card, your card might be reused without your consent and knowledge. 

If you wish to learn how to lock your Aadhaar number to prevent misuse and prevent Aadhaar fraud, please continue reading.

How To Lock the Data on Your Aadhaar Card?

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has reassured that the core biometric database remains secure and protected from breaches. However, if you wish to strengthen misuse prevention by locking Aadhaar, follow these steps: 

Step 1: Visit the UIDAI website.
Step 2: Select the Lock/Unlock Biometrics’ option from the ‘My Aadhaar’ dropdown menu, which will take you to ‘Aadhaar Lock/Unlock’ portal.
Step 3: Enter your Virtual ID (VID). Generate it on the UIDAI website if you don’t already have one.
Step 4: Fill in the required details, enter CAPTCHA, and then click on ‘Send OTP’. 
Step 5: Verify the OTP and click on ‘Submit’ to lock your Aadhaar card.

Once your Aadhaar security is taken care of, it’s important to consider the following:

• Biometrics can no longer serve as the primary means of authentication.
• Certain online transactions may fail due to the unavailability of biometric information.
• Unlocking your Aadhaar card can only be done via VID and an OTP sent to your registered mobile number. 

How To Unlock Information on Your Aadhaar Card?

Unlocking the Aadhaar card follows a similar process to the one followed to lock identity. You will need your VID, which you can retrieve from the UIDAI portal if you have forgotten it. Once you enter the VID and the security code and verify with an OTP, your Aadhaar card can be unlocked successfully. 

Why Should You Consider Locking Your Aadhaar Card?

By using the Aadhaar lock feature, you can prevent unauthorised access to your biometric data, reducing the risk of identity theft and preventing misuse. Acting as an Aadhaar safeguard, it gives you control over who can use your biometric information for authentication purposes, ensuring that you are securing your Aadhaar details.

Conclusion

Locking your Aadhaar card is a wise proactive measure to safeguard your personal information and prevent misuse such as identity theft. By following the straightforward steps provided by the UIDAI, you can add a layer of security to your Aadhaar data. 

Safeguarding Aadhaar can also prove beneficial if you expect to conduct significant financial transactions such as taking out a personal loan. As the application process requires personal and financial information, Aadhaar security ensures that unauthorised parties cannot access or manipulate this data. This protects the interests of both you and the lender. 

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