WhatsApp is adding a secure way to log in to a desktop or web application. This feature will ask for biometric authentication before linking to the desktop or web application. This authentication is either using their phone’s fingerprint or FaceID. And before this to work, you also need to enable authentication in the WhatsApp application mobile.
The additional security layer is to protect users from linking their accounts to WhatsApp web without their presence. WhatsApp also mentions that they won’t be able to see the FaceID or biometric data. WhatsApp is extra careful since the new Terms and Conditions are getting lots of negativity. The company had to push the update of Terms and even open their mouths regarding privacy.
The new update is only to protect an unethical way of accessing WhatsApp over the web. The new system will be available by default on any iPhone running iOS 14 or any Android phone having fingerprint or facial ID enabled. This means that users with biometric or facial ID enabled will have to unlock before they link to the desktop. If you don’t want to use this feature, here is another way you can disable the authentication on the phone application.
WhatsApp will read the API of the biometric like the other apps and doesn’t have access to the data. It mentioned in a Tweet, “Today we’re starting to roll out a new security feature for WhatsApp Web and Desktop: face and fingerprint unlock when linking devices. WhatsApp does not see your face or fingerprint data. Chats for your Eyes only.”
WhatsApp mentions this feature will be rolling out in the coming weeks. A visual redesign in WhatsApp web in mobile phones is also coming in the future, says WhatsApp.
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