WhatsApp introduces new security features

WhatsApp has announced several new security features which include an extra check when an account is transferred to a new device.

Account Protect, a new security feature from the instant messaging platform, will offer users an additional layer of protection when they transfer their WhatsApp account to a new device.

Another new security feature is Device Verification, which is mainly meant to stop malware on a device from sending spam and phishing messages.

Other Security highlights

WhatsApp uses cryptographic keys to ensure that communications across the app are end-to-end encrypted. One of these encryption keys is the authentication key. The authentication key allows a WhatsApp client to connect to the WhatsApp server to establish a connection based on previously established trust, so the users don’t have to enter a password, PIN, SMS code, or other credential each and every time they turn on the app.

WhatsApp uses three different methods that benefit from how people typically read and react to messages sent to their device to distinguish between a connection request of the actual user or one started by malware.

The third new feature we want to highlight is Key Transparency, which allows users to automatically check they are using a secured connection.

The ultimate objective of the new features on WhatsApp is to give users more privacy and control over their messages.

What users can do to make it more secure :

These security features will be made available for all devices in the coming months. Until then there are a few things you can do yourself to make WhatsApp more secure.

Only install WhatsApp from the Apple App Store or Google Play, to avoid getting an infected version of the app.
Enable two-step verification.
Use of end-to-end encrypted backups.