Meta’s WhatsApp on Tuesday announced a new high-security feature called “Strict Account Settings,” aimed at protecting users who may be vulnerable to highly sophisticated cyber attacks, including journalists, activists and public figures.
The lockdown-style setting, which will roll out in the coming weeks, activates a series of enhanced security measures with a single tap, including blocking attachments and media from unknown senders, silencing calls from unfamiliar contacts and disabling link previews, which can be used as attack vectors.
WhatsApp said the feature is designed for a small group of users who may face rare but advanced surveillance or hacking attempts, while noting that all personal messages and calls are already protected by default end-to-end encryption.
The company said the new mode restricts some app functionality in exchange for stronger security, similar to Apple’s “Lockdown Mode” and Google’s Android “Advanced Protection Mode.”
Cybersecurity experts welcomed the move, saying such protections could help journalists, activists and dissidents who are often targeted by spyware and advanced hacking campaigns.
WhatsApp said users will be able to enable the feature through the Privacy settings menu once it becomes available. (Newswire)
