WhatsApp Introduces Secret Code for Locked Chats: A New Level of Privacy
Meta-owned WhatsApp continues to bolster its security features with the testing of a new functionality named “Secret Code” for locked chats within its Android beta version. This latest addition aims to fortify user privacy by concealing the method to access secured conversations, enhancing the existing Chat Lock feature.
The Chat Lock feature, introduced earlier, allows users to secure their chats using their device password or biometric authentication. However, the Secret Code feature takes this security a step further by enabling users to hide the means to open these locked chats, ensuring an additional layer of confidentiality.
Enhanced Security Measures with Secret Code
This new Secret Code feature, spotted by WABetaInfo in the Android version 2.23.24.20, permits users to lock their chats using a unique code. Unlike accessing locked chats via the app’s home screen, Secret Code-protected chats remain invisible when pulling down the home screen. Accessing these chats requires users to enter the designated code in the Chats tab’s search bar, heightening protection, particularly for individuals who occasionally share their devices for various tasks.
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The procedure to employ the WhatsApp Secret Code feature is relatively straightforward. Users can access this functionality by navigating to the list of locked chats, clicking on the three-dot menu, enabling the ‘Hide locked chats’ option under Chat lock settings, and creating a secret code. However, it’s essential to select a memorable code as resetting it will result in the deletion of all locked chats.
Presently, this feature is exclusively available to a limited group of beta testers who have updated their WhatsApp beta for Android via the Google Play Store. However, it’s anticipated that this advanced security feature will soon be rolled out to a wider audience in the coming weeks.
In parallel news, recent reports indicate WhatsApp’s intentions to introduce advertisements on its platform. This development is noteworthy, given the previous denial by a senior executive regarding speculations about Meta-owned messaging platforms incorporating ads. This addition of ads might signal a shift in the platform’s monetization strategy, possibly impacting user experience.
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