WhatsApp Enhances Cybersecurity with New ‘Lockdown’ Settings
WhatsApp is enhancing cybersecurity for its users with a new feature called “Strict Account Settings.” This initiative aims to provide increased protection against cyberattacks, particularly for individuals in high-risk categories, such as journalists and public figures.
Key Features of the New ‘Lockdown’ Settings
The “Strict Account Settings” automatically block attachments and media from unknown senders. Additionally, it silences calls from contacts that are not recognized by the user. Other limitations include:
- Disabling link previews.
- Restricting who can add users to groups.
- Preventing non-contacts from viewing profile photos, “about” details, and online status.
Target Audience and Usage
WhatsApp advises users to enable these settings only if they believe they could be targets of a sophisticated cyber campaign. According to the platform, most individuals are not likely to be victims of such attacks.
WhatsApp’s Security Commitment
In addition to this latest feature, WhatsApp has a history of prioritizing user security, including end-to-end encryption. This commitment to cybersecurity intensified after incidents involving the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, which infiltrated devices via vulnerability in phone calls.
As a response, Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, initiated legal action against the NSO Group and received $167.25 million in damages. Furthermore, WhatsApp successfully dismantled a spyware operation targeting journalists and civil society members last year.
Ongoing Legal Challenges
Currently, Meta is facing a lawsuit that alleges potential access to users’ private chats by the company and WhatsApp. Andy Stone, Meta’s head of communications, dismissed these claims as “a frivolous work of fiction,” emphasizing that WhatsApp employs the Signal protocol for encryption.
How to Activate ‘Lockdown’ Settings
The rollout of the “Strict Account Settings” feature will commence in the coming weeks. Users wishing to activate it can do so by following these steps:
- Open WhatsApp settings.
- Select “Privacy.”
- Tap “Advanced.”
- Choose the “Strict Account Settings” option.
It’s important to note that this feature can only be enabled from the primary device, as it is not available on WhatsApp for the web.
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