"WhatsApp" enhances account protection with new anti-fraud tools

WhatsApp announced new protection tools including developing two-step verification with a longer password, expanding support for passkeys, and adding caller information for Android, as part of anti-fraud efforts.

WhatsApp announced a set of new protection tools to enhance user account security and reduce takeover and fraud attempts. The updates include developing two-step verification, allowing users to use a longer password containing letters, numbers, and special symbols instead of a 6-digit PIN. WhatsApp also expanded support for passkeys, which secure the account using fingerprint, facial recognition, or device lock code, with the ability to add multiple passkeys per account. The platform introduced additional information for Android users when receiving calls from unknown numbers, indicating if the number is associated with a different country or if there are shared groups with the caller. These measures are part of WhatsApp's efforts to combat fraud, including a fraud alert feature that uses a machine learning model on the device to detect signs of fraudulent messages, without automatically sending message content to WhatsApp or Meta. The platform also relies on end-to-end encryption for messages and calls, along with device verification technologies.