WhatsApp’s Innovative Identity Verification and Advancements in Security Features

WhatsApp is currently experimenting with a novel feature aimed at verifying users’ identities. This involves sending a dynamically changing One-Time Passcode (OTP) via email when individuals open their personal accounts on new devices for the first time. This innovation, reported by WABetaInfo, is still in the testing phase and marks WhatsApp’s first foray into identity confirmation beyond the conventional method of receiving codes via text messages to the user’s phone number.

The new feature is being rolled out to a select number of participants in the WhatsApp Beta Program. Its primary objective is to streamline the security of user accounts and simplify the recovery process, particularly in scenarios where users need to change their phone numbers.

This development addresses an increasingly prevalent issue—SIM swapping attacks—where fraudsters transfer a user’s phone number to a new SIM card. This occurs before they gain access to all electronic accounts, subsequently altering passwords and security measures. The new feature aims to counteract such threats by offering an alternative verification method through email.

Additionally, WhatsApp has recently initiated trials for the “Passkeys” security feature. Developed in collaboration with tech giants Microsoft, Apple, and Google, Passkeys enable developers of applications, websites, and electronic services to enhance user login experiences. It eliminates the need for traditional passwords by utilizing encrypted digital passkeys directly stored within the user’s operating system, whether on a phone or computer.