WhatsApp beefs up security with call context and stronger verification
WhatsApp, the instant messaging service owned by Meta, noted that more than 1 billion people had a passkey
WhatsApp has significantly bolstered its security measures to prevent scammers and hackers from exploiting users' accounts. The company, owned by Meta, revealed that over 1 billion individuals have already set up a passkey feature, which enables users to regain access to their WhatsApp accounts using biometric data like fingerprints, facial recognition, or screen lock codes. This move aims to replace more vulnerable codes and PINs commonly used for account authentication.
Furthermore, WhatsApp is enhancing its two-step verification process to a full password system, allowing users to create more complex passwords with alphanumeric and special characters. This improvement is intended to strengthen account security against potential breaches.
In a bid to combat scams, Android users will now receive additional context about incoming calls from unknown numbers. By providing information about where the call is originating from and whether the caller shares common groups with the user, WhatsApp hopes to increase awareness and prevent potential fraud.
WhatsApp's commitment to user security is evident in its blog post, where the company emphasized that conversations on the platform remain private between the users involved. This stance underpins the company's dedication to end-to-end encryption by default and its continuous efforts to introduce new security features.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
