WhatsApp has announced a series of new security features aimed at strengthening account protection and reducing the risk of unauthorised access to users’ accounts.

The messaging platform said the latest upgrades cover two-step verification, additional information for calls from unknown numbers and broader support for passkeys as part of its continuing efforts to improve account security.

A key change affects WhatsApp’s two-step verification system, which has been expanded beyond the traditional six-digit PIN. Users can now create longer passwords that include letters, numbers and special characters, providing an additional layer of protection.

WhatsApp said the enhanced security measure is intended to help prevent account takeovers, including cases in which an unauthorised individual obtains a user’s one-time verification code.

The platform has also added more information to calls received from unknown numbers. Android users will be able to access additional context about callers whose numbers are not stored in their contacts before choosing whether to answer.

The information can show whether the caller’s number is registered in another country or whether the caller and recipient belong to any of the same WhatsApp groups.

According to WhatsApp, the additional context is intended to help users understand unfamiliar calls and make more informed decisions about answering them.

WhatsApp also announced that its passkey feature is being expanded, noting that more than one billion people have adopted passkeys for their WhatsApp accounts.

Passkeys give users another method of verifying their identity and recovering access to their accounts through biometric authentication, including a fingerprint or facial recognition, or by using their device’s screen lock.

Under the latest expansion, users can add multiple passkeys to one WhatsApp account. The feature may be especially useful for people who use both Android and iOS devices.

Users can find the passkey option by going to Settings > Account > Passkeys.

WhatsApp said it would continue to develop security tools intended to help users retain control of their accounts while protecting their private conversations.

The platform also reaffirmed that end-to-end encryption remains enabled by default. This ensures that messages and calls are protected so that only users and the people they communicate with can access their content.

Source: msme Africa online