After surfacing various reports of data theft through Aadhar number, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on January 10, introduced a two layer security system:
- The UIDAI has introduced the concept of a Virtual ID, which an Aadhaar holder can use in lieu of his/her Aadhaar number at the time of authentication, besides sharing of ‘limited KYC’ with certain agencies.
- A Virtual ID (VID) will be a temporary 16-digit random number mapped with the Aadhaar number.
- There can only be one active and valid VID for an Aadhaar number at any given time and it will not be possible to derive the Aadhaar number from VID.
- The VID authentication will be similar to using Aadhaar numbers.
- A generated VID will be temporary in nature, hence agencies will not be able to use it for de-duplication.
- The cardholder’s real AadharID will masked from the service provider agencies.
- Only the details of a user that is necessary, will be shared with the agencies.
- This new system will come into effect from June 1, 2018.
