WhatsApp Rolls Out 'Strict Account Settings' Feature for Enhanced User Security

Washington D.C. Meta-owned messaging app WhatsApp has launched the 'Strict Account Settings' feature to provide enhanced security for its users. The company implemented this new security system on Tuesday, considering the growing risk of cyberattacks and hacking globally.

Activating this 'one-click' button, available in WhatsApp's settings, will give users a more secure experience. When this mode is turned on, photos, videos, and documents received from unknown numbers will be blocked. Furthermore, link previews in chats will not be displayed, and unknown calls will be automatically silenced. WhatsApp has tightened these features because cybercriminals have been found to spy primarily through links and media files.

WhatsApp stated that while all their conversations are secured by 'end-to-end encryption,' this additional security is necessary for journalists, human rights defenders, and public figures. This feature is targeted at such individuals who are frequently targets of sophisticated cyberattacks.

In the technology sector's security competition, Meta has become the third major tech company to introduce such a high-security mode. Previously, Apple introduced 'Lockdown Mode' for iPhone users in 2022, and last year, Google launched 'Advanced Protection Mode' for Android. While these features limit users in some functionalities, they significantly strengthen security.

Security researchers have welcomed WhatsApp's move. John Scott-Railton of The Citizen Lab expressed confidence that this feature will greatly assist in the security of activists and opposition leaders in particular. He suggested that other technology companies should also adopt similar security measures.