Stronger alternatives such as multi-factor authentication, complex passphrases, and biometric verification are encouraged.
An advisory has urged Singapore organisations to immediately discontinue the use of National Registration Identity Card numbers as authentication credentials.
The joint advisory from Singapore's Cyber Security Agency and Personal Data Protection Commission have jointly issued an advisory warning that NRIC numbers, being static and often accessible, are unsuitable for verifying identity and pose significant cybersecurity risks, especially when used alone or combined with birthdates or names.
Stronger alternatives such as multi-factor authentication, complex passphrases, and biometric verification are encouraged, reports Open Gov Asia. The CSA also recommends tools like the SingCERT Password Checker and cybersecurity toolkits to aid compliance.
This directive reflects Singapore's continued commitment to enhancing digital trust and defending against identity fraud and cyber threats. It also aligns with international best practices to safeguard personal identifiers and ensure a more resilient digital infrastructure for a growing economy.
Written by
Dan Raywood is a B2B journalist with 25 years of experience, including covering cybersecurity for the past 17 years. He has extensively covered topics from Advanced Persistent Threats and nation-state hackers to major data breaches and regulatory changes.
He has spoken at events including 44CON, Infosecurity Europe, RANT Forum, BSides Scotland, Steelcon and the National Cyber Security Show, and served as editor of SC Media UK, Infosecurity Magazine and IT Security Guru. He was also an analyst with 451 Research and a product marketing lead at Tenable.
