WhatsApp announces new security features

WhatsApp has announced a number of security features to enhance the safety and privacy of users. The company has announced these new features to ensure users have more control over their messages and added layers of privacy. Some of these features include Account Protect, Device Verification and Automatic security codes. The new features will be introduced over the coming months, with some of the work happening behind the scenes without user involvement.

The Account Protect feature will double-check users when they switch their WhatsApp account to a new device. WhatsApp will ask the old device to verify that the user wants to take this step as an extra security check. The feature will alert users to an unauthorized attempt to move their account to another device.

Device Verification will help protect users from mobile device malware that can take advantage of their phone without permission and use their WhatsApp to send unwanted messages. To authenticate users' accounts and protect them if their device is compromised, WhatsApp has added checks with no action required from users.

The company is now rolling out an Automatic Security Codes feature based on a process called "Key Transparency." The feature will automatically verify that users have a secure connection, making it easier and more accessible to everyone. There are two features that only users can turn on: two-step verification and use of end-to-end encrypted backups.