Need some privacy? WhatsApp got you covered

 WhatsApp has introduced a feature to lock private chats.

Meta-owned WhatsApp has unveiled new security measures which have left netizens wondering how much protection is needed for their chats and from whom they need protection from.

Some are even joking that the new privacy settings were made for nefarious reasons such as cheating. WhatsApp has said these changes were developed to give users greater control over their messages and enhance privacy levels.

The messaging App, which has over 2.24 billion users released a statement that read: "At WhatsApp, we believe that your messages should be as private and secure as an in-person conversation. Protecting your messages with default end-to-end encryption is the foundation of that security, and we will never stop building new features to give you extra layers of privacy, and more control over your messages. A lot of this work happens behind the scenes without you having to do a thing."

The messaging app, which was bought by Meta, (formerly known as Facebook) in 2014 for $19 billion is the eighth most downloaded Android app in the Google Play Store, making it one of the most popular global mobile messenger apps according to Meetanshi blog. The highest number of users comes from India with 487 million in that country.

Since acquiring the app in 2014 lots of changes have been made by Mark Zuckerberg after changing the name of his parent group to Meta in which all his acquisitions, including which WhatsApp fall under. He changed its footer to show that it is now a Meta-owned app. Instead of "WhatsApp from Facebook", it is now "WhatsApp from Meta."

In 2020 they decided to execute a change of data on both services from being looked after by its companies in Ireland and regulated by the country's authorities to global entities.

In January 2021, WhatsApp rolled out a new update that led many to fear that the parent company - then known as Facebook - would be granting itself access to people's private chats and other information.

In August 2021 they also introduced disappearing messages allowing you to set a timer for your messages, after which they will automatically disappear from the chat. Once activated, the messages, including text, photos, and videos, will self-delete, leaving no trace.

In August 2022 they rolled out the option of leaving a group without notifying members. This privacy update means regardless of the size of the chat members will be able to discreetly leave and only group admins will be informed of a member's exit instead of how previously a notification would be given to the whole group when you leave.

They also gave the option of limiting how many users could see you when you were online.

Currently, people have the option to switch off read receipts but users can still see when their contacts were last on WhatsApp. This new update will have allowed the customers to choose who can see when they are online at any time. WhatsApp outlined in its statement that this is to give more security to users and not let all their contacts know when they are online.

According to the company, this update will help users keep their online activity private saying "Everyone has had times when they wanted to check their WhatsApp privately."

It brings the app into contention with other messaging apps such as Snapchat and Instagram, which already have this feature.

WhatsApp has now released three new security features that they would be adding in the coming months.

They include Account Protect, Device Verification and Automatic Security Codes.

With Account Protect, when you want to switch your WhatsApp account to a new device, WhatsApp will ensure it is you and not someone else trying to access your account without permission.

To add an extra layer of security, WhatsApp may ask you to verify on your old device that you want to make this change.

This feature is designed to help you know if someone is trying to take control of your account without your knowledge. By asking you to confirm the switch on your old device, WhatsApp can alert you if there is an unauthorised attempt to move your account to another device.

Account Protect helps make sure that only you can switch your WhatsApp account to a new device, keeping your account secure and preventing unauthorised access.

Device Verification to secure your device malware. Mobile device malware is one of the biggest threats to people's privacy and security today because it can take advantage of your phone without your permission and use your WhatsApp to send unwanted messages. To help prevent this, we have added checks to help authenticate your account - with no action needed from you - and better protect you if your device is compromised.

This lets you continue using WhatsApp uninterrupted. WhatsApp now has measures in place to verify that your account is genuine and secure. If your device is ever compromised by malware, these checks will kick in to protect you. This way, you can keep using WhatsApp without interruptions while having an extra layer of security against unwanted messages being sent from your account.

Lastly, WhatsApp has introduced Automatic Security Codes which make sure your chats are secure. Some users already had the option to manually verify their security codes, but now it is easier for everyone. When you click on the encryption tab, you can quickly see if your conversation is protected. It is like a green light that tells you everything is secure.

This feature is based on something called Key Transparency. But the important thing to know is that it is a way for WhatsApp to automatically check and confirm that your chats are safe and private without you having to do anything complicated. So now, with just a simple click, you can be sure that your conversations are protected.