Recent reports suggest that the CoWIN portal, used for Covid-19 vaccination registration in India, faced a security breach. Initial reports suggesting a hack exposing the data of over 150 million users. These reports have been labeled “rubbish claims” by the Indian government.
The CoWIN portal in India is extremely useful for booking the vaccine slots in India. Furthermore, this personal data of more than 150 million users is up for sale. Hackers accessed personal data of over 150 million Indian users, including names, mobile numbers, Aadhaar card details, PAN card details, and vaccination center information. Also Read – CoWIN portal gets new four-digit security code update
Contrary to initial claims, the Government of India and the Health Ministry deny a mass data dump. The Ministry of Health and the chairman of the Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration (EGVAC) have denied the breach. Furthermore, the Indian Government emphasizes that CoWIN utilizes a secure digital environment to protect vaccination data.
We suggest our users to,
- Be cautious of online reports, especially those lacking concrete evidence. Also Read – Covid-19 Vaccine for Children: How to register on CoWIN app
- Refer to official government channels for accurate information on CoWIN and COVID-19 vaccinations in India.
CoWIN Data Breach Debunked by Indian Government
The Indian government has swiftly addressed online rumors regarding a potential CoWIN data breach. Following viral reports of a CoWIN hack, the government issued an official statement debunking them as “fake”. R.S. Sharma, Chairman of the Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration (EGVAC), confirmed the platform’s security and assured citizens that there has been no data breach.
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Data Stays Within Secure System
The Government of India continues to emphasize the security of CoWIN user data. Furthermore, Government officials confirms that the data is not share with any entity outside of the system. The Chairman also acknowledges the circulation of fake news on social media regarding a CoWIN hack. Also Read – Google provides COVID-19 vaccine information in Search App
He encourages users to be critical of online information. Sharma reiterates that CoWIN utilizes a secure digital environment to safeguard all vaccine-related data. We suggest our readers to rely on official government channels for accurate information on COVID-19 news and vaccinations in India. Also Read – COVID-19 Vaccine, do not post your COVID-19 vaccine certificate on social media
CoWIN Vaccination Slot booking website
The Indian government has clarified data security measures on the CoWIN platform in response to online rumors. EGVAC Chairman R.S. Sharma emphasizes that CoWIN does not share vaccination data with any external entities. This counters reports alleging data leaks. Also Read – Google Nest Hub 2 with sleep sensing feature launched
On the other hand, the report claims about data being leak and share further to outside entities. The government refutes reports suggesting the leak of sensitive user information such as geolocation, age, sex, and vaccination center details. Sharma clarifies that CoWIN doesn’t even collect user geolocation data, further ensuring data privacy.
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How to book COVID-19 Vaccine Slot in India?
Following reports of a potential data breach on the CoWIN portal, the Indian government is taking swift measures to ensure user safety. The official website for COVID-19 news and information serves Indian citizens by allowing them to check and book Covid-19 vaccine slots nationwide. Also Read – Covid-19 Vaccine for Children: How to register on the official app
As a reminder, CoWIN is the official website, not an app, for booking COVID-19 vaccine appointments across India. There is just one portal which is in use to book the vaccine slots. Keep in mind, Booking a slot through this official portal is mandatory for vaccination. The Ministry of Health and EGVAC are actively investigating the alleged data breach reports.
Only after booking the slot, they will be allowed to visit the respective COVID Vaccine center for their selected vaccine. The Health Ministry is currently working with the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) of MeitY to bolster CoWIN’s security. Â Currently, the Ministry is getting in touch with the Computer Emergency Response Team of MietY. Also Read – Top 5 Apps to help through the COVID-19 second wave: CoWIN, Aarogya Setu, PayTM
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