On Thursday, WhatsApp, the Facebook-owned popular messaging app has introduced a new feature that includes biometric authentication to a computer’s web browser or desktop app. Now, before logging into the app, it will ask you to verify using fingerprint or Face ID.
Until now, the app just needed to scan the QR code on your mobile to use WhatsApp Web or the desktop app. Now, WhatsApp will ask for Face ID or fingerprint authentication for security reasons. WhatsApp cannot enter the biometric information stored by your device’s operating system.
In an official statement, WhatsApp added: “This will limit the chance that a housemate or officemate (when we have those again) can link devices to your WhatsApp account without you. This builds on our existing security measures today, which pop up a notice in your phone whenever a Web/Desktop login occurs, and the ability to unlink devices from your phone at any time.”
To enable Face ID you’ll need to select go to Whatsapp>Account > Privacy > Screen Lock. After doing that you’ll then have to choose between Touch or Face ID.
Recently, Whatsapp was at the center of a controversy regarding its privacy policy which led to people uninstall the app and shift to other messaging apps like Signal and Telegram.
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