नेपाली
Kathmandu । Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp has announced a new set of security upgrades aimed at making account takeovers, phishing and scam calls harder for attackers.
The biggest change is an upgrade to two-step verification. Instead of the previous six-digit PIN, users can now create a longer alphanumeric password with special characters, making the additional security layer harder to guess.
WhatsApp is also expanding passkey support. Users can now add more than one passkey to the same account, which is particularly useful for people using both Android and iOS devices. Passkeys allow account verification through fingerprint, Face ID or a device screen lock, reducing reliance on passwords and verification codes. WhatsApp says more than 1 billion people have already set up passkeys.
Another update targets unknown callers. On Android, WhatsApp will provide additional information about callers who are not saved in a user’s contacts, including whether the number is from another country and whether the caller shares any groups with the recipient. The aim is to give users more context before answering potentially fraudulent calls.
The latest measures are part of a broader security push by WhatsApp. Earlier this year, the platform introduced Strict Account Settings, a lockdown-style option designed particularly for people facing sophisticated cyberattacks, such as journalists and public figures.
WhatsApp has also been developing Scam Alert, an optional on-device AI system designed to identify patterns associated with scam messages without sending message content to WhatsApp for classification.
What this means for users
The direction is clear: WhatsApp is moving beyond simply protecting message content with end-to-end encryption and is increasingly focusing on protecting the account itself from social engineering, phishing and takeover attempts.
Use a strong two-step verification password, enable a passkey where available, and think twice before answering or interacting with unknown contacts. The new security features are being rolled out as WhatsApp faces increasingly sophisticated scams and account-hijacking attempts.
