A step-by-step guide to locking and unlocking your Aadhaar—no worries about fraud or theft; secure your data in just 10 minutes..

Aadhaar Biometric Data Lock Facility: Incidents of cyber fraud are on the rise these days. Cybercriminals are siphoning money from people's accounts not only from within the country but also from abroad. Leaks involving mobile OTPs and Aadhaar data—specifically biometric details—are among the primary causes. In such a scenario, the Aadhaar lock/unlock facility can prove extremely useful for security. This feature allows you to lock your Aadhaar. You can unlock it when needed, and within 10 minutes, your details will once again become inaccessible—effectively locking them so they remain invisible to others.

You can avail of this facility via the UIDAI website or the new Aadhaar app. To do so, an OTP is sent to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar, allowing you to unlock it temporarily for 10 minutes. Here is the step-by-step process:

Step-by-step process on the UIDAI website:
Visit the 'My Aadhaar' section on the official UIDAI website.
Click the 'Login' button and enter your Aadhaar number and the captcha code.
Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number.
Select the 'Lock/Unlock Biometrics' option from the dashboard.
To unlock, select 'Unlock Biometrics' and confirm the process.

Step-by-step process on the Aadhaar app:
Open the Aadhaar app on your phone.
Go to the 'My Aadhaar' section and log in.
Tap on 'Biometric Settings'.
You can disable or temporarily unlock your biometrics whenever you wish.
(Important note: Temporary unlocking opens the biometrics for only 10 minutes, after which it automatically locks again.)

Benefits of locking Aadhaar biometrics:
Protection against financial fraud: Nowadays, money can be withdrawn from bank accounts using the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS). With the biometric lock enabled, no one can steal money from your account by cloning your fingerprints. Data Security (Aadhaar Privacy): No agency, company, or individual can use your biometrics (thumbprints or iris scans) to verify your identity without your consent. Secure Online Transactions: Even in the event of an Aadhaar data leak, your biometric data remains completely secure because the system rejects any matching attempt while the lock is active. Your Aadhaar, Your Control: Whenever you need to provide your thumbprint—such as for opening a bank account, buying a SIM card, obtaining a gas connection, or availing benefits from a government scheme—you can temporarily unlock it for just 10 minutes. It automatically locks again once the task is completed.
In this way, the Aadhaar lock-unlock facility can prove very useful to you.

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