[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]How would you react if someone you do not know told you he has your mobile numbers, residential address, date of birth, PAN number, voter ID number, telecom operator, phone model, and Air India frequent flyer ID, bank account number, demat account details, payment history?<\/p>\n
And, further, he goes and deposits some money in your account without your consent?<\/p>\n
A normal person would be rattled. But, apparently, RS Sharma, the outgoing Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), is made of sterner stuff.\u00a0 He said no harm has been done to him.<\/p>\n
Sharma had on Saturday made his Aadhaar number public in an open challenge to users to \u201cdo any harm to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sharma, former UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) director general, has been an ardent supporter of the Aadhaar program, vouching for the safety of the system, and dispelling privacy concerns surrounding Aadhaar even during his current tenure as TRAI Chief.<\/p>\n
\u201cData privacy is a big and very important issue in a digital world. I am one of the most vociferous supporter of that. However, the only thing I am saying is that Aadhaar does not violate privacy,\u201d Sharma had tweeted Saturday.<\/p>\n
In an interview to ThePrint, he said, \u201cTell me what harm can you do to me if you have my Aadhaar details? I will give you my Aadhaar number if you like.\u201d<\/p>\n
This provoked a reaction from Twitterati. One @kingslyj tweeted: \u201cWalk your talk @rssharma3! Publish your Aadhaar details to the public if you have so much trust in this 13ft wall secured system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sharma responded. \u201cMy Aadhaar number is 762177682740. Now I give this challenge to you: Show me one concrete example where you can do any harm to me!\u201d he tweeted.<\/p>\n
Soon many dug out various personal details about Sharma. On Sunday, ethical hackers \u2013 including Elliot Alderson, Pushpendra Singh, Kanishk Sajnani, Anivar Arvind, and Karan Saini – pointed out that nearly 14 items had been leaked so far, reported The Times of India (TOI). These included Sharma’s mobile numbers, residential address, date of birth, PAN number, voter ID number, telecom operator, phone model, and Air India frequent flyer ID.<\/p>\n
They also claimed to have his bank account number and IFSC code for five other accounts \u2013 in PNB, Bank of India, SBI (joint account), Kotak Mahindra and ICICI Bank.<\/p>\n
Anivar Aravind and a few others also sent Re 1 to his Bank of India account via Aadhaar-Enabled Payment Service (AEPS) like PayTM and Bhim. Twitter users cautioned the chairman that the ability to send money to him without his consent could expose him to blackmail, money laundering and other dangers.<\/p>\n
Hackers also posted his demat account details, his payment history for a three-year subscription to a right-wing website with his SBI debit card, usage of Aadhaar card for sale of organic goods by Leela Dhar Organics of Hari Sewak Sharma on July 2, 2018, said the TOI report.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1532949461734{border-top-width: 10px !important;border-right-width: 10px !important;border-bottom-width: 10px !important;border-left-width: 10px !important;padding-top: 10px !important;padding-right: 10px !important;padding-bottom: 10px !important;padding-left: 10px !important;background-color: #cecece !important;border-radius: 10px !important;}”]Elliot Alderson who describes himself as a French security researcher, dug up Sharma\u2019s phone number, date of birth (DOB), and address. \u201cPeople managed to get your personal address, dob and your alternate phone number. I stop here, I hope you will understand why make your #Aadhaar number public is not a good idea,\u201d Alderson tweeted.<\/p>\n
\nThe phone number linked to this #Aadhaar<\/a> number is 9958587977 https:\/\/t.co\/ijlxGBBl4Z<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) July 28, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n