Bangalore: Government’s attempt to provide a safe personal electronic space to citizens of India for storing their important documents has caught the fancy of Internet fraudsters who are coming up with all sort of apps on Google Play store.
This innovative initiative of the central government has prompted several developers to create apps that mimic the DigiLocker (currently available only on Android OS). In order to make them look very authentic, the developers have used Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s picture as well as the National Emblem of India, says a press release from eScan, an anti-virus and content security company.
Allowing the trend analysis based on previous/ past experiences, it is to be noted that these fake apps might steal your credentials or act as Adware or in worst cases the apps might become the harbinger of Ransomware, says the press release.
Google’s Play store makes use of Google Bouncer, which searches the Android market for apps that could be malicious. However, it allows anyone to publish an app in the Play Store. The fake apps’ download range is 10,000 to 50,000 whereas original DigiLocker app download range is between 1 lakh to 5 lakhs, which somehow indicates you about the authenticity.
Thus, it’s a message to the users to refrain from such fake apps and download the DigiLocker app, developed by ‘MeitY, Government of India’ and make ‘Digital India’ Campaign a real success, the press release added.
It may be recalled that government had launched DigiLocker mobile app recently with the Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari and Minister for Information and Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad joining hands to formally inaugurate the system.
DigiLocker eliminates the use of physical documents, help accessing them anytime, anywhere and able to share online, and avoid forgery. The integration of driving license and registration certificates with the DigiLocker will enable their access through mobile devices, which means citizens need not carry physical copy of Driving License; they just need to install the app. The digital copies of driving license and registration certificate can also be shared with other departments for verification purpose.