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WhatsApp has announced a new set of strict account security settings to protect vulnerable individuals from sophisticated cyberattacks. These measures are designed to improve resilience against targeted attacks while maintaining user privacy and platform integrity.
WhatsApp’s new security update, Strict Account Settings, is aimed at people who may face higher risks, such as journalists and public figures. Any regular user who wants extra security can choose to turn it on.
When this new setting is enabled, WhatsApp locks the most restrictive settings. This reduces the chances of hackers or spyware gaining access to your account. This feature prevents anyone outside your contact list from accessing the attachments and media files. It will prevent harmful files from being sent to your phone by unknown users.
WhatsApp said in a blog post, “Strict Account Settings is one of many ways we’re working to protect you from the most sophisticated of cyber threats.”
The feature is not available for everyone right away. Once it becomes available, users can turn it on by going to Settings > Privacy > Advanced inside the WhatsApp app. You will be asked to set up a 6-digit PIN before turning on Strict Account Settings.
In its description for the feature, WhatsApp also warned, “Most people do not need this level of protection. This will reduce the quality of your messaging experience and calls.”
The messaging platform has also rolled out a programming language called ‘Rust’ behind the scenes to help keep users’ photos, videos, and messages safe from spyware. It allows you to chat more confidently.
“We’ve also rolled out a programming language called Rust behind the scenes to help keep your photos, videos, and messages safe from things like spyware, so you can share and chat with confidence,” WhatsApp announced.
“This lockdown-style feature bolsters your security on WhatsApp even further with just a few taps by locking your account to the most restrictive settings like, automatically blocking attachments and media from unknown senders, silencing calls from people you don’t know, and restricting other settings that may limit how the app works,” Meta said in a recent blog post.
Apple introduced a similar ‘Lockdown Mode’ feature in 2022, which the company has described as “optional, extreme protection that’s designed for the very few individuals who, because of who they are or what they do, might be personally targeted by some of the most sophisticated digital threats.”
Android also started providing an “Advanced Protection Mode” to protect devices “against online attacks, harmful apps, and data risks.”
Also Read: How to Turn On WhatsApp IP Protect on Your Account Easily?
WhatsApp has always focused on privacy. The app already uses end-to-end encryption by default. It means that only the sender and receiver can read messages; not even WhatsApp itself can see them. With Strict Account Settings, the company is taking this protection a step further.
These new features show WhatsApp’s continued effort to keep conversations private and secure.
