WhatsApp has a new security feature that will protect users from cyberattacks. Once this feature is enabled, several defenses will be activated simultaneously on WhatsApp.

WhatsApp has a new security mode

WhatsApp has released a new security feature for its millions of users worldwide that could protect them from cyberattacks. This feature, called "Strict Account Settings," activates multiple security defenses simultaneously with a single tap. WhatsApp has become the third company to offer this feature, after Apple and Google. It's worth noting that WhatsApp announced this feature some time ago and is now rolling it out. 

How will this feature work?

Enabling this feature activates multiple defenses simultaneously, making it difficult for hackers to target the user. Once the feature is enabled, files and attachments from unknown numbers will be blocked, link previews displayed alongside URLs will be disabled, and calls from unknown numbers will be silenced. WhatsApp says that all three of these are at risk of being used for surveillance and advanced cyberattacks, and this feature will provide protection against them.

How to enable the feature?

To enable the feature, users need to go to Settings and tap on the Privacy option. Go to the Advanced section, where you'll find the new feature. This feature is currently being rolled out, so it may take some time to reach your device. It will be available to all users in the coming weeks. This feature has been specifically designed for journalists, activists, and public figures, who are at greater risk of cyberattacks and espionage.

Google and Apple have also introduced such a feature.

In 2022, Apple released a similar feature called Lockdown Mode. It activates several defenses, including disabling message attachments, link previews, and restricting web browsing. Google also rolled out Advanced Protection Mode last year, which works similarly to Lockdown Mode.