Hacked Aadhaar Enrollment Software Available For Rs 500; Bill Gates Says Aadhaar Is Safe!
This software can be attached with any biometric-enabled hardware and can be used to connect with the central database of UIDAI to add, edit or delete data.
In a major embarrassment to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), it is being reported that the allegedly safe and tamper proof Aadhaar Enrollment Software has been hacked, and if being sold for mere Rs 500.
If this is indeed true, and if such a cracked software reached sensitive areas like borders and Naxal infested regions, then this can cause mayhem and destruction.
In a related news, one of the world’s richest persons, Bill Gates, has openly acknowledged that Aadhaar system is completely safe, and it doesn’t harm or sabotage privacy at all.
Aadhaar Enrollment Software Hacked?
ECMP (Enrolment Client Multi-Platform) is a modified Aadhaar Enrollment Software, which is used by official representatives of Govt. and UIDAI to enrol any person into the Aadhaar system.
This software can be attached with any biometric-enabled hardware and can be used to connect with the central database of UIDAI to add, edit or delete data.
As per some reports, this sensitive software has been successfully hacked and is being sold for as little as Rs 500 to Rs 2000. The reporters have found some Whatsapp groups active in Punjab, where hackers are selling the cracked version of ECMP.
The software had a geo-tag and biometric tag which enabled the security; only authorized personals with the authentic tags can unlock the software.
But, these tags have been compromised.
An unnamed person said,
“The GPS module to track the location of the enrolment has also been disabled through a patch,”
An Aadhaar enrollment officer, named Bharat Bhushan Gupta has informed UIDAI about this massive breach of security, but till date, no reaction came from them.
Bill Gates: Aadhaar Is Completely Safe
Bill Gates has openly supported the Aadhaar concept, saying that the platform is completely safe, and doesn’t endanger privacy in any manner.
This comment comes at a time when Supreme Court of India is hearing petitions which claim that Aadhaar poses a great security and privacy risk, and the mandatory requirement to attach with IDs should be stopped.
Gates said,
“Aadhaar in itself doesn’t pose any privacy issue because it’s just a bio ID verification scheme,”
Appreciating the efforts of Nandan Nilekani, architect of UIDAI under whom the whole project started, he said,
“I’m both good friend and an admirer of Nandan Nilekani and some of the initiatives of digitisation efforts that can help with education that can help with governance,”
Nilekani is right now consulting the World Bank to implement a similar identity platform.
We will keep you updated, as we receive more inputs.
“I’m both good friend and an admirer of Nandan Nilekani and some of the initiatives of digitisation efforts that can help with education that can help with governance,”
This is the important reason why Bill Gates is so flippant about it. He will require Indian govt support and Nandan’s support for the good deeds he is doing here.
And factually he is not incorrect, IF Aadhar was only a biometric verification system. Unluckily it is not just that. The govt has made it a key to all my personal information and finances. So hacking it not just about a verification gone wrong it is about getting all the data about my life.
It is sad that all the IT bigwigs seem to willingly play ostrich to these concerns. I guess they think the little people should keep quiet and just accept their great ideas.