Aarogya Setu Hack, Should You Delete It? 5 Things You Must Know

Aarogya Setu Hack news has been going viral since yesterday. So, are you at risk? Should you delete the Aarogya Setu App? Does Aarogya Setu app pose any threat to your privacy or smartphone? All your answers here.

A flaw was reported by a French hacker in the Aarogya Setu app source code.

So, any user who wants to misuse the app, can track down the near-exact locations of everyone using the app. The app aims to offer a surveillance service by letting you know if anybody near you has tested positive or symptomatic to Covid-19.

Aarogya Setu Hack: Privacy At Risk?

In a blog post, French ethical hacker Robert Baptiste (@fs0c131y on Twitter) claimed that the Aarogya Setu app source code has multiple flaws. With some simple changes, it allows others to access the app’s internal files and reveals the location of every user of the app.

So the user’s location and health status can be hacked into, claimed the French hacker.

Can Aarogya Setu App Be Hacked?

As explained by Baptiste in the post, opening up the source code of the Aarogya Setu app can be easily tweaked. It allows independent parties to change the app’s source code and this will compromise the security code and privacy. He also claimed that it can be fixed.

Aarogya Setu app lets users know if any positive Coronavirus patient is around or not, but it has been criticised by many for privacy.

Aarogya Setu App: Government Knows Where You Are?

Many have claimed that there’s a clause in the app privacy policy which doesn’t hold the Indian government liable in case of any unintended and unauthorised access to sensitive user data. This being a case of pandemic and has a larger national significance, the sensitive data access will be a part of it.

The sensitive data which may come under the unintended access includes health status of citizens identified by location.

Aarogya Setu Risk: Should You Delete It?

In reply to the recent acquisitions, Aarogya Setu spokesperson have clearly mentioned that no personal information of any user has been proven to be at risk. French ethical hacker Robert Baptiste though have challenged the government that he can hack into the app.

The government has reassured that the Aarogya Setu app is being continuously tested and the backend team is upgrading the systems 24×7.

As of now, there’s no official claim of any hack, so deleting it at this moment is unnecessary. Also, the app will let you stay safe as the situation has been worsening in the country under the pandemic.

Team Aarogya Setu has assured all the users and that no data or security breach has been compromised, or identified as of now. Even the team has encouraged other users to get back if they find any vulnerability in the Aarogya Setu app.

Aarogya Setu App Compulsory For All Under New Lockdown Rule

Aarogya Setu App has been made mandatory for all Indians as per the latest lockdown rules. With privacy being a big setback for the app, many have questioned it being made compulsory. Though given how we can stay a step ahead against COVID-19, the Aarogya Setu app could be a big part of it to stop the spread.

The Aarogya Setu app should work on the security part so that contact tracing is seamlessly possible without the risk of unauthorised surveillance.