WhatsApp has announced a series of new security measures aimed at making user accounts more secure, including an update that sees more than one billion people now using passkeys.
According to WhatsApp, passkeys allow users to sign back into their accounts using a fingerprint, Face ID or their device’s screen lock code instead of relying on verification codes or PINs.
The platform said users who operate both Android and iOS devices can now add more than one passkey to their WhatsApp account. Users can set up the feature through Settings > Account > Passkeys.
WhatsApp is also strengthening its two-step verification system. The platform said the previous six-digit PIN is being upgraded to a full password that can be longer, include letters and numbers, and use special characters.
The company encouraged users to move away from easily guessed passwords, highlighting “123456” as an example of a password that should be replaced.
In another security-focused update, WhatsApp is providing Android users with additional information when they receive calls from people who are not saved in their contacts.
The new information can include whether the caller’s number is from another country and whether the caller shares any WhatsApp groups with the recipient.
WhatsApp said the additional context is intended to help users make more informed decisions before answering calls from unknown numbers, particularly as scammers often use urgency as a tactic.
The company said the latest measures are part of its continued efforts to keep accounts secure and ensure conversations remain accessible only to users and the people they are communicating with.
