WhatsApp Boosts Account Security for At-Risk Individuals

WhatsApp has announced fresh security enhancements for at-risk users, introducing Strict Account Settings to bolster safety and privacy amid targeted cyber threats. The lockdown-style feature will allow users to block attachments and media from unknown senders and silence calls from people they don’t know, with additional extreme protection settings available when activated.

The option will be accessible from WhatsApp’s Settings menu under Advanced options in the Privacy tab and is set to roll out over the coming weeks. According to WhatsApp, Strict Account Settings is one of the many ways the service is working to protect users from the most sophisticated cyber threats, particularly for journalists and public figures who may be targeted.

WhatsApp has long offered end-to-end encryption for messages since 2014 and earlier noted that backups stored in the cloud are encrypted as well, with features like two-factor authentication and passkeys to further secure accounts. The new measures come as part of ongoing efforts to harden protection for vulnerable users.