Unlike its rivals Telegram and Signal, WhatsApp always takes a lot of time before making a new feature available to users. All new features go through a longer development phase, which is partly accompanied by beta testing. These tests often provide advance insights into the upcoming functions. And that’s the case this time too. With a practical feature designed to take WhatsApp chat security to a new level.
WhatsApp is working on chat blocks
For example, if you are surrounded by overly curious friends, you can already block WhatsApp with a fingerprint or a password. This means that all chats are well protected from prying eyes. But there is a big catch. Since WhatsApp is by far the most popular messenger service in this country, we usually use the app many times a day. Therefore, the safety mechanism described can be perceived as annoying in the long run. WhatsApp itself seems to have noticed that too. Because now another security function should finally solve the problem.
As the Portal WABetaInfo reported that the beta version of the messenger has recently had a chat lock. This allows access to individual chats to be secured by password or biometrics. All other chats remain freely accessible and can also be opened without a lock.
Other features of the new security layer
Users will be able to set the backup in the corresponding contact or group info. Blocked chats should be transferred to a separate menu and no longer appear in the normal chat list. Furthermore, media such as images or videos sent to affected chats or groups no longer automatically end up in the smartphone’s gallery – as is usually the case.
The WhatsApp function described is currently still under development and can only be used in the beta for Android (version number: 2.23.8.2). It may therefore be a while before the security feature is rolled out for the normal WhatsApp version as well. Until then, users can protect their WhatsApp account from attackers with the following six tricks:
