Data Breach: What it is and How to Protect Yourself – 5 Essential Tips Following Aadhaar Card Data Leak of 81.5 Million People

A recent report has revealed that India has experienced its largest data breach to date, with the personal information of 81.5 million Indians being leaked. The data, which was originally held by ICMR, was discovered on the dark web, where the hacker had posted spreadsheets containing the information. The leaked data includes sensitive details such as Aadhaar card numbers, passports, names, phone numbers, and addresses. Shockingly, the hacker is now selling this information. In light of this alarming incident, it is crucial for people to become more knowledgeable about cybersecurity. One important initial step is understanding what a data breach is and how individuals can protect themselves from it. Let’s delve into this topic further.

What is a data breach

A data breach is a digital security threat where unauthorized persons gain access to sensitive or confidential information. This information can be personal, business or even government information. This can happen in a number of ways, including hacking, malware attacks, phishing scams, or human error. Data security breaches can have serious consequences for both individuals and organizations, including financial loss, identity theft and reputational damage.

How to prevent a data breach

There are several things individuals can do to prevent data breaches. Here are some tips:

1. Be careful about what information you share online and who you share it with. Only share your personal information with trusted websites and organizations.

2. Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. Strong passwords are at least 12 characters long and contain a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security. Use antivirus tools on your own phones and computers as well.

3. Keep your software up to date and install security patches regularly. Software updates often include security patches that can help protect your devices from known vulnerabilities.

4. Beware of phishing scams and other manipulation attacks where emails, websites, text messages or phone calls are designed to trick you into revealing your personal information.

5. Monitor your credit report and bank statements for suspicious activity. If you notice unauthorized charges or other suspicious activity, contact your bank or credit card company immediately.

By following these tips, individuals can protect themselves from data breaches. However, it is important to note that there is no guaranteed way to prevent a data breach. Cybercriminals are constantly developing new attack methods, so it’s important to be vigilant and keep security measures up to date.

In cases like the ICMR data breach, if true, it is completely beyond the capabilities of an individual to prevent such data breaches. In such scenarios. However, an individual can share as little information as possible and that too after thoroughly vetting the platform with which they are sharing the information.