A lot of people have @UIDAI in their contact list by default. I’m thinking aloud: What if it is only the top of the iceberg?
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) August 2, 2018
I really need to know now. If you have an Indian phone firmware, I’m your man, please send it to me! https://t.co/xRVNM72f1u
Hi @UIDAI,
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) August 2, 2018
Many people, with different provider, with and without an #Aadhaar card, with and without the mAadhaar app installed, noticed that your phone number is predefined in their contact list by default and so without their knowledge. Can you explain why?
Regards,
A lot of people have @UIDAI in their contact list by default. I’m thinking aloud: What if it is only the top of the iceberg?
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) August 2, 2018
I really need to know now. If you have an Indian phone firmware, I’m your man, please send it to me! https://t.co/xRVNM72f1u
Yes, and it magically shows up everytime I reset my phone. Definitely a Google thing, because it happens with different ROMs.
— Soham (@shmsnh) August 2, 2018
No Aadhaar app installed, using Idea sim and just noticed the contact exists.
— ????? ???? ?? (@pussymonious) August 2, 2018
My friends using old phones like Moto E, Redmi Note 3 etc. also have the contact in their phones, some on Jio and some on Vodafone.
#googlepixel2 user here. The contact has been there since I moved phones from pixel 1 to pixel 2. I do root my phone and everytime I go back to stock firmware after factory reset - UIDAI contact and a service helpline are the only contacts listed. Never thought abt it.. cont..
— AmolG (@Amolecule) August 2, 2018
Holy shit. I bought my phone in the US, how the hell do they know I'm an Indian. Something deep is happening here.
— Krishna Deepak (@mskd96) August 2, 2018
?? bt i never installed adhar aap??? pic.twitter.com/nAjqvEOt4u
— Anirudha Sohani (@anirudha_sohani) August 2, 2018
The press statement made by @UIDAI on the fact that their number is saved by default is a BIG LIE. Check this press statement made in 2014. pic.twitter.com/CRUTAjEg2w
— Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) August 3, 2018
Abhijit
2 years agoChill.
Google admitted that in 2014 it coded the 112 distress number and the UIDAI number into its setup wizard for Android.
Ajay Sharma
In Reply to Abhijit 2 years agoWhen was the UIDAI helpline number release to the public?
Saurabh Chauhan
2 years agoMy view is some what different. Actually the problem gets elevated as most of us are using our mobile phones for social interactions, money transfers and other financial transactions. What if the data is being watched with an intention to misuse. What if our bank accounts are hijacked and used for some anti national or terror funding sort of things. In this way neither our money is safe nor are we. Seems that our social and economical privacy is compromised.
Madhur
2 years agoNothing in the article justifies the speculative justification given: that UID helpline number is a basic helpline.
Why exactly is UID helpline number considered a basic emergency number? By anyone.
Gopinathan Padmanabhan
2 years agoThere's a need to unmask this Elliot Anderson, who's taking undue interest in this UIDAI phone book issue and all other cyber security related issues in India.
Madhur
In Reply to Gopinathan Padmanabhan 2 years agoI am surprised that this is your only concern.
Do you find no need to unmask how the UID helpline number found its way into everyone\'s contacts?
Do you find no problem in knowing that someone, somewhere can add or delete your contacts without you even knowing?
Would you not like to know what else this person or institution can do to your phone?
What if they can fake your voice, make calls from your phone, and get you incriminated in some case - without you even knowing?
Debo C
In Reply to Madhur 2 years agoThat has already been unmasked and the merry bunch of conspiracy theorists is left naked in public eye. chill
Seetharaman V
In Reply to Gopinathan Padmanabhan 2 years agoI agree with this. Aadhar is India's internal matter and in fact required for every citizen. Legal action required against this guy.
Shrik S
In Reply to Gopinathan Padmanabhan 2 years agoThis is a thought even I consider appropriate.why has he gained so much popularity behind the name, mask and whatever his work is, he has captured people imagination as a savior and no one technically is unmasking him, including Indian Ethical Hackers
Anindya Bhattacharya
2 years agoWe need to know apart from UIDAI helpline number automatic update in individual SIM / mobile phones what else it is capable of. I am scared if individual's bank account details can also be auto downloaded to somebody else' SIM / Mobile.
B. KRISHNAN
2 years agoHeavens r not going to fall if I have UDAI helplines number in my handset by default. What is the hidden 'iceberg ' Mr. Alderson is alluding to? Some people r out to discredit AADHAR by fair means or foul!
Shrik S
In Reply to B. KRISHNAN 2 years agoYou have a point there but coming to terms with what can happen if your data is leaked,given willingly by you and misused through any medium for that matter, is different from someone gaining access to all interconnected database links from 1 Primary Key. It's giving someone a key to the lock of your house when the key is unassumingly disguised as your personal data. You are probably well aware of this and may be safe enough till it may come home in some form, if not directly from Aadhar
Debo C
In Reply to Shrik S 2 years agoHelpline leaking data? Seriously? Only a Morin who is careless with is/her data and merrily types away in online portals everything about his great great grandfather needs to worry - nothing to do with UID though