Whats. App adds new security features to protect user accounts
“Fake QR codes and call-forwarding scams are among the methods used to compromise Whats. App accounts. Whats. App has introduced new security features designed to str…”
App has introduced new security features designed to strengthen account protection, including improved two-step verification and support for multiple passkeys. While the upgrades are expected to make account takeovers more difficult, users still need to remain cautious because stronger authentication cannot stop scams that trick people into giving attackers access.
Whats. App has experienced several security threats over the years. In the past, attackers exploited vulnerabilities that could allow spyware to be installed without requiring users to take any action.
More recently, however, criminals have increasingly turned to phishing and social-engineering scams that manipulate users into handing over access themselves. Fake QR codes and call-forwarding scams are among the methods used to compromise Whats. App accounts.
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The platform’s new security measures are intended to reduce the risk of such attacks, but users still have an important role to play. One of the biggest risks is unauthorized access through linked devices. Even a strong password may not help if a user is tricked into linking an attacker’s browser or device to their Whats.
App account. Users should therefore regularly open Settings > Linked Devices and review all computers, browsers and phones connected to their account. Any unfamiliar device should be removed immediately.
Whats. App also recommends reviewing its privacy and security settings. Users can enable features designed to limit unwanted message floods from unknown accounts and protect their IP address during calls.
Another useful update is coming to Android users. Whats. App will provide more information about calls from numbers that are not saved in a user’s contacts.
The app may show whether the caller is from another country and whether the two users belong to any of the same Whats. App groups. This additional context could help users decide whether a call is legitimate before answering.
Despite the new protections, basic security precautions remain essential. Users should never scan a Whats. App QR code or enter a device-linking code simply because a website, message or person claiming to be support instructed them to do so.
The new features provide another layer of protection, but the safest approach is to combine Whats. App’s security tools with regular checks of linked devices and caution around unexpected messages, calls and account-verification requests.
Written by Sajal Ali
Aman-e-Pakistan Senior Journalist & Bureau Reporter
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