WhatsApp announced Three new features dedicated to account securitymaking access by unauthorized parties more difficult and providing users with more information when they receive calls from unknown numbers. New features involving two-step verification, calls from numbers not included in your address book, and keys are made more flexible, especially for those who use WhatsApp on multiple devices.
Let’s look at them in more detail.
Two-step verification from PIN to password
The main innovation involves two-step verification. WhatsApp Replace the traditional six-digit PIN with a real passwordcan contain letters, numbers, and special characters. This change allows you to use more complex combinations than simple digital code, making it more difficult to guess the credentials used to protect your account.
On Android, WhatsApp will also show Learn more when you receive a call from an unknown number. Users will be able to know if the number is from a country other than their own and how many WhatsApp groups they share with the caller. This is not a complete identity check, but it is information that can help you know whether to respond. For example, a number from a country you have no relationship with and that doesn’t share any groups could represent a useful signal for you to decide not to answer.
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WhatsApp also announced that more than 1 billion users have linked keys to their accounts. This technology allows you to log in using an authentication system already on your device, such as fingerprint, facial recognition, or screen lock.
Today’s messaging especially concerns people using multiple devices: WhatsApp allows you Associate multiple keys with the same account. Therefore, you can have the key on both your Android device and your iPhone without having to use the same authentication method on both.
WhatsApp is also expanding Chat backup using keys. Users can use them to protect backups with end-to-end encryption without having to remember specific passwords or long 64-bit codes for manually protecting backups.
The three new features are being released on Android and iOS. WhatsApp is being rolled out gradually, so some features may not yet be available on all accounts. The company recommends keeping the app updated for new options.
