WhatsApp ups security with fingerprint and face ID authentication when linking devices

WhatsApp rolls out biometric authentication to improve security when users link their smartphone to a new device. — WhatsApp

WhatsApp is introducing biometric authentication for linking your smartphone to a new device, to use its web or desktop versions.

The instant messaging service tweeted that the new security feature would require users to verify their identity using face and fingerprint unlock when linking devices.

Currently users only need to use their smartphone to scan a QR code generated by the secondary device, to link their WhatsApp account between both devices.

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 onlyhttps://t.co/qR3zsexzfj pic.twitter.com/Ei5G35MPpA — WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) January 28,2021

With the new feature, users would be prompted to verify their biometric data on the smartphone, before linking the devices.

WhatsApp assured that it does not see users’ face or fingerprint data.

The FAQ further explained that authentication was handled by the device’s operating system using the biometrics stored there.

“WhatsApp can’t access the biometric information stored by your device's operating system,” it stated.

The move to introduce more security comes following intense public scrutiny of its new privacy policy and terms, where it could share some user data with parent company, Facebook.

It later delayed the roll out of the new terms, from Feb 8 to May 15, and claimed the update would not affect personal conversations, which would continue to have end-to-end encryption.

However, the news led users to decamp en masse for competing messaging apps, including Telegram and Signal.