WhatsApp introduces a new feature. It’s about safety
Popular messenger WhatsApp is improving its security features. The application will gain a simple form of identity confirmation, which may be useful in a crisis situation.
Meta is constantly developing WhatsApp, and now a new feature has been added to the beta version of one of the most popular messengers in the world. Thanks to it, we can access the account not only using the phone number.
New in WhatsApp – email verification in the application
According to WABetaInfo, in the pre-release version of WhatsApp number 2.23.24.10, a selected group of testers can get acquainted with the new feature. This is a new email account verification method that has been tested internally since August this year.
The new confirmation option is located in the Settings>Account menu. There we can enter and verify our email address. As the application reassures, it will not be available to other people. It is intended only as an alternative method of accessing our account. Providing data is only an available option, not compulsory.
The basic means of verification will still be the telephone number and text messages, but confirming identity via e-mail may prove useful if we lose access to our smartphone. The phone number is still required to set up a new account.
Usually, releasing a given new product in a beta version means quick tests, after which the function is released to the actual application. This means that verification will most likely reach all WhatsApp users soon.
WhatsApp ends support for old phones
Recently, we wrote about another security enhancement of the Meta platform, which may hurt some users. At the end of October, WhatsApp withdrew support for phones with older Android systems.
Previously, the application could be used by people with devices with even Android 4.1. However, from now on, smartphones with Android 5.0 and newer are supported. This change is dictated by security and functionality issues. Older operating systems are no longer supported, which exposes them to hacker attacks and bugs.
Both versions of the mobile operating system are old, having been made public in 2014 (Android 5 Lollipop) and 2012 (Android 4.1 Jelly Bean), respectively. The older version is no longer even supported by Google, which prevents, among other things, installations of new applications from Google Play.
