In late October, a report by a cybersecurity firm from the US, Resecurity, found that personal information of 815 million Indians was being sold on the dark web. This included Aadhaar and passport details, names, phone numbers, and addresses. It shows how serious the risk of digital identity theft is in India.
Mask Your Aadhaar Card to Secure The Unique ID
With more people using digital payments and Aadhaar Card verifications, it’s important to protect your identity. Make sure to lock your biometrics and consider using masked Aadhaar cards.
To protect against identity theft, UIDAI introduced masked Aadhaar cards. They work like regular Aadhaar for most verifications, but for some government benefits, you might need the full Aadhaar number. Here’s how to download one.
What Do You Mean By Masked Aadhaar?
A masked Aadhaar is like a safety upgrade for your regular Aadhaar card. It changes the first 8 digits into “xxxx-xxxx,” showing only the last 4 digits. This isn’t just for looks—it’s an extra layer of security to keep your identity safe by not revealing the full 12-digit Aadhaar number.
Why Do You Need One?
Masked Aadhaar is like a superhero cape for your privacy—it hides the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number with “xxxx-xxxx,” revealing only the last four. Choosing it adds an extra layer of security, reducing the risks of identity theft and fraud. Despite the disguise, it works just like a regular Aadhaar for verification purposes.
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How to Download Masked Aadhaar?
You can only get a masked Aadhaar card online; printed copies won’t work. To get one, visit the UIDAI website or head to your nearest Aadhaar enrollment center.
UIDAI website:
- Head to the UIDAI website.
- Click “Download Aadhaar” on the myAadhaar page.
- Enter your Aadhaar Number and the Captcha.
- Verify your identity with the one-time password (OTP) sent to your linked mobile number.
- Choose “Do you want a masked Aadhaar?” and hit “Verify & Download.”
- Grab your newly downloaded masked Aadhaar from your computer’s downloads.
- Open it using a password—use the first 4 letters of your name and your birth year.
- Alternatively, you can use your Enrolment ID (EID) or the 16-digit Virtual ID (VID) from the acknowledgment slip instead of the Aadhaar number.
