WhatsApp rolls out advanced security mode for high-risk users

WhatsApp now became the latest among tech firms to roll out an advanced security mode for its users. Meta's WhatsApp messaging service is offering users an advanced security mode, joining a growing number of U.S. tech firms that are letting users opt into stronger protections against hackers in exchange for a more restrictive experience. The new option, rolling out on Tuesday and called "Strict Account Settings," is a one-click button in WhatsApp's settings that activates a series of defences.
These include blocking media and attachments coming from unknown senders, opting out of link previews, which are thumbnails if a URL is sent on a chat, and further muting calls from contacts not saved on users' phones. All three have been identified as potential vectors for surveillance and advanced hackers. In a blog post, WhatsApp said that while all its users' conversations were protected by end-to-end encryption, "we also know that a few of our users - like journalists or public-facing figures - may need extreme safeguards against rare and highly sophisticated cyberattacks." Meta is the third major tech firm to offer enhanced protection for its high-risk users. In a blog post, WhatsApp said that while all its users' chats are end-to-end encrypted, this feature was for those who require “extreme safeguards.”
In 2022, Apple launched "Lockdown Mode," which it describes as "an optional, extreme protection" designed for the "very few individuals" who might be targeted by advanced digital threats. Available on iPhone and macOS, the feature disables most message attachment types and link previews and includes restrictions on FaceTime calls and web browsing.
Last year, Alphabet's Android began offering "Advanced Protection Mode," for users with "heightened security awareness." This too restricts some functions to offer enhanced protection, including disallowing the download of potentially risky apps from outside its Play Store.