Meta-owned popular instant messaging platform WhatsApp on Tuesday announced that is rolling out new security features to give users more control over their personal information. The new update brings support for multiple passkeys, stronger two-step verification and more information about calls from unknown numbers.
The messaging platform says more than 1 billion people are now using passkeys on WhatsApp. A passkey allows users to log back into their account using their fingerprint, Face ID or their phone’s screen lock instead of entering a code.
With the latest update, users who have both Android and iOS devices can add more than one passkey to the same WhatsApp account. Users can find the option by going to Settings > Account > Passkeys.
Two-step verification gets stronger
WhatsApp is also making its two-step verification feature more secure. Earlier, users could protect their account with a six-digit PIN. Now, the messaging app is allowing users to create a full password with letters, numbers and special characters.
The company says the change will make it harder for attackers to guess a user’s security information. WhatsApp also reminded users that weak passwords such as “123456” should be avoided.
More information about unknown callers
The Meta-owned app is also adding more context when users receive calls from people who are not saved in their contacts. On Android, users will now be able to see information such as whether the caller’s number is from another country and whether they share any groups.
This will help users decide whether they should answer a call, especially as scammers often try to create urgency and pressure people into responding quickly.
According to WhatsApp, these new features add more protection while keeping its existing end-to-end encryption in place for personal messages and calls.
The latest security update comes as online scams and account takeover attempts continue to become more sophisticated. WhatsApp has also been testing other security tools, including an optional Scam Alert feature that uses on-device AI to identify possible scam messages without sending the message content to WhatsApp.
