Meta is on a roll when it comes to bringing long-awaited features to WhatsApp. After yesterday’s news about scheduling messages coming to the popular messaging service, we now learn that you’ll finally be able to set passwords in WhatsApp soon.
This feature was spotted in beta testing, specifically in WhatsApp Beta for Android version 2.26.7.8. It appears that, once they arrive in the public version, passwords won’t be mandatory, as you’ll likely still be able to use your account without setting one up. Passwords will simply be another layer of security that users can implement.
The feature is currently only present in WhatsApp beta for Android, and there’s no mention of whether it will be coming to iOS as well. Given that scheduled messages are currently only present in an iOS test build, it looks like Meta is splitting new features across platforms. Still, it’s reasonable to assume that iOS users will also be able to set up passwords, but no confirmations just yet.
The current process of setting up a WhatsApp account is well-known. You enter your phone number, receive and input the 6-digit SMS verification code, and you"re in. The new password won"t alter this initial signup; it"ll only kick in for logins on new devices or after re-verification. You’ll still be able to set up your WhatsApp account the “old-fashioned” way and further secure it with a password if you choose.
Right now, WhatsApp accounts aren"t the most secure by default. Essentially, anyone with access to your SIM card can hijack the OTP codes and sign into your account. Meta hopes to mitigate that by allowing users to add an extra step.
Once set, the password becomes a required step during logins on new devices. First you"ll need to enter the 6-digit SMS code, then (if enabled) your existing two-step verification PIN, and finally the account password. This multi-layer approach makes unauthorized access much harder, even if someone hijacks your OTP.
There’s no info on when Meta plans to push passwords to the public version of WhatsApp.
Source: WABetaInfo