WhatsApp on Tuesday announced several new features designed to enhance account security, including related to passkeys, two-step verification (2SV), and caller context.
The Meta-owned messaging app says more than 1 billion individuals now rely on a passkey to log in to their WhatsApp accounts.
Users can now add more than one passkey, which can be useful for those who use the application on both iOS and Android devices.
As for two-step verification, the one-time passcode that was previously a six-digit PIN is now being upgraded to a full password. The password can be longer and it can include alphanumeric and special characters.
The last new security feature is, for the time being, only for Android users. When they get a call from a non-contact, they will see more information about the caller, including their country and whether they are members of the same WhatsApp groups.
“Scammers rely on urgency – now you can take a beat with some more info before answering,” WhatsApp said.
The news comes a couple of weeks after WhatsApp unveiled Scam Alert, an optional feature that uses AI to flag suspicious messages from non-contacts.
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