PTI | Updated: Mar 14, 2018, 10.20PM IST
No IT systems across the world can claim to be safe, including Aadhaar, due to rise in complexity of cyber attacks, Indian arm of London Stock Exchange listed security software maker Sophos today said.
"No CIO today can say with hand on his heart that his systems are 100 per cent vulnerability free," Sophos Managing Director - sales for India and Saarc, Sunil Sharma said at the sidelines of launch of the report on 'The State of Endpoint Security'.
When asked his view on Aadhaar, which claims to be completely safe and secure, he said "in terms of vulnerabilities, no one can claim that his system is 100 per cent safe"
Here's how to link your mobile number with Aadhaar sitting at home
Linked your mobile number to Aadhaar? Hassled about the idea of visiting an offline store and standing in line to get this done? Worry not, as the government has made the process easier for mobile subscribers who can now link their Aadhaar number sitting at home. All one needs to do is call on '14546', the new single number for Interactive Voice Response (IVR) services launched to facilitate the mobile-Aadhaar linking. The new IVR process saves users from the trouble of visiting an offline store to get this done. The service also allows mobile subscribers with multiple numbers to link their Aadhaar number as well.
Call on '14546'. Here too terms are bit different depending on the telecom operator. For example, Airtel requires users to call from their registered mobile number, this number that is linked to your Aadhaar card.
The IVR will ask you if you are an Indian national or a foreign national. Choose your option. Indian nationals need to press '1', foreign nationals are required to press '2
After this you will be asked to give your consent to share your Aadhaar card number with the mobile service provider under the Aadhar Act. To give consent press '1'.
In next step, you need to share your 12-digit Aadhaar number. The confirmation process here can be different depending on your telco. In case of Vodafone, IVR repeats your Aadhaar and subscribers need to confirm by pressing '1'. To re-enter, press '2'.
If the number is correct, you will be prompted to generate OTP.
An OTP will now come to the mobile number shared in your Aadhaar card.
To complete the Aadhaar re-verification process, enter the six-digit OTP. Remember, this OTP is valid for 30 minutes.
You will be asked about any alternate mobile number/numbers linked to this Aadhaar.
Users who have more than one number linked to their Aadhaar card can link them too by pressing on the digit '2'. Here again, you will need to keep the phone handy to receive OTP and finish the authentication process.
By sharing your Aadhaar number with your telecom service provider, you will agree to share all the details on your Aadhaar like name, gender, address, date of birth and more with the company.
Entering the OTP here is equivalent to your signature to re-verify your mobile number with Aadhaar card.
Once done, you will receive an SMS saying that your Aadhaar re-verification process has been successfully accepted and that you will receive an SMS asking for your confirmation after 26 hours.
You will also get an e-mail on your registered ID from UIDAI, the nodal agency that issues Aadhaar number, confirming that your "Aadhaar number XXXXXXXXXXXX was used successfully to carry out Authentication using OTP." The message will also share information including date, time when the authentication was done.
Users who have more than one number linked to their Aadhaar card can link them. Here again, you will need to keep the phone handy to receive OTP and finish the re-verification process.
Email sent to Unique Identification Authority of India, custodian of Aadhaar, elicited no immediate reply.
The survey of Sophos, covering 2,700 IT decision makers including 300 in India, revealed that more than 70 per cent surveyed do not have anti-exploit technology, which means these businesses are easy prey for data breaches and complex threats like WannaCry.
As per the survey, despite the intensity and magnitude of attacks, Indian businesses are still not prepared to defend itself against determined attackers.
"According to those impacted by ransomware last year, the median total cost of a ransomware attack was $133,000. Indian organisations median total cost stood at $1.17 million, the highest, in rectifying the impacts of ransomware. This extends beyond any ransom demanded and includes downtime, manpower, device cost, network cost, and lost opportunities," the report said.
Ransomware is a malicious software that locks system of a user and demands payment for unlocking it. Around 67 per cent of Indian entities covered in the survey were hit by ransomware last year.
Globally, more than 70 per cent of IT professionals surveyed were unable to identify the correct definition of anti-exploit technology, despite how critical it is for modern attack prevention, the report said.
"91 per cent Indian organisations claimed to running up-to-date endpoint protection when impacted by ransomware and 89 per cent India respondents stated that malware threats have got more complex over the last year," as per the report.
Globally, as per the survey, healthcare sector was most impacted by ransomware with 76 per cent of entities in the segment admitted to have been hit by the malicious software.
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