WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has introduced new security features to provide users more control over their conversations and increase privacy. The modifications to the messaging app will be implemented gradually, with some occurring automatically in the background. The goal is to make chats more secure than in-person interactions.
Account Protect, a new security feature introduced by the instant messaging service, will give users additional security when they move their WhatsApp accounts to different devices. To avoid unauthorized attempts, the feature will prompt users on the old device to confirm that they desire to move their account to another device.
Device Verification, another new feature added to WhatsApp, attempts to protect users from mobile malware that could use their phone to send unwanted messages by exploiting it without their knowledge. WhatsApp has added the feature to verify users' accounts and protect them if their device is compromised without user input.
With these new capabilities, Whatsapp is also implementing an Automatic Security Codes function to safely check users' connections, based on a procedure known as "Key Transparency." Previously, the security code verification feature could only be used by the app's most security-conscious users to ensure they spoke with the correct person. With no user interaction necessary, the new functionality increases everyone's access to encrypted communications by automatically confirming the connection's security.
Additionally, users can employ WhatsApp's two-step verification and end-to-end encrypted backups as security features. To help more individuals stay safe, Whatsapp encouraged users to tell their friends about these features. The new capabilities' main objective is to provide users with more privacy and control over their conversations, and WhatsApp vows to keep creating additional tools to raise the platform's security.
