WhatsApp’s new ‘lockdown’ settings add another layer of protection against cyberattacks

C

CoreRipple

"WhatsApp's New Lockdown Settings: A Valuable Layer of Protection for High-Risk Users"

In a bid to bolster the security of its messaging platform, WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that offers users an additional layer of protection against cyberattacks. Dubbed "Strict Account Settings," this feature will automatically block attachments and media from unknown senders and silence calls from non-contacts.

For individuals who are at a high risk of being targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks, such as journalists or public figures, these new settings can be a godsend. By enabling this setting, users can significantly limit the functionality of their WhatsApp accounts, including turning off link previews, limiting who can add them to groups, and blocking non-contacts from viewing their profile information.

WhatsApp's decision to introduce this feature comes in the wake of several high-profile attacks on its platform, including those by NSO Group's Pegasus spyware. The company has long offered end-to-end encryption, but it appears that more is needed to protect its users from these kinds of threats.

The new setting will be available for users to turn on in the coming weeks, and can be accessed by navigating to WhatsApp settings, selecting "Privacy," tapping "Advanced," and then selecting the option. However, users should note that this feature can only be enabled on their primary device, not on WhatsApp for the web.

As WhatsApp's parent company Meta continues to face scrutiny over its security practices, including a recent lawsuit claiming it can access private chats, these new settings offer a welcome layer of protection for high-risk users. By empowering users to take control of their security, WhatsApp is taking an important step towards protecting its most vulnerable users from cyber threats.

In essence, the new "Strict Account Settings" feature offers a critical layer of defense against sophisticated cyberattacks, and can be seen as a significant development in WhatsApp's ongoing efforts to boost the security of its platform.
 
I'm so glad they're finally taking steps to protect high-risk users on WhatsApp 🙌. I mean, journalists and public figures are always getting targeted by these nasty hackers, it's about time something was done about it 🤬. This new feature is a game changer, especially for those who are already using end-to-end encryption, but still need that extra layer of protection 💯. It's not just about keeping our personal info safe, but also our sanity when we're dealing with all these online threats 😩. I'm excited to see this rolled out and can't wait to enable it on my primary device 📱.
 
😊 I think this is a great move by WhatsApp - we need more protection for our online safety, especially when it comes to high-risk users like journalists and public figures 📰💻. It's about time they upped their game after those nasty Pegasus spyware attacks 🚫🔍. The fact that they're making these settings available in the coming weeks is a good step forward 💪.

I'm glad WhatsApp is taking this seriously and empowering users to take control of their security 🙌. It's not just about the tech, it's about looking out for each other online 👫. I just hope more platforms do the same - we need more protection against cyber threats, especially with how vulnerable our online lives can be 🤯.

This new feature is like a breath of fresh air for me - finally, some real action on protecting users' security 💨! Kudos to WhatsApp for taking this step and I'm excited to see what other measures they'll take to boost their platform's security 🔒.
 
I'm so glad they're finally doing this! I mean, think about it, journalists and public figures are literally targets for these types of attacks all the time... 🤯 They need that extra layer of protection, you know? And it's not just them, anyone with a weak password or who doesn't take their security seriously should be able to use this feature too. It's like, we're living in a world where our online safety is only getting worse and it's about time someone took steps to change that. I'm all for WhatsApp taking control of its users' security - it's about time someone did! 🙌
 
🔒 this is so important! I'm glad whatsapp is taking steps to protect its users from those nasty cyberattacks. it's not just for journalists or public figures who are at risk, but also anyone who uses their phone to do online banking or pay bills 📊💸. as a user, I want to feel safe and secure when i'm using my phone, and whatsapp is finally taking some real action to make that happen 💯. let's hope they keep pushing for more security features and not just rely on end-to-end encryption 👍
 
I think its good that they're finally doing something about these cyber attacks 🙌😊. Like, who hasn't had their phone or computer hacked at least once? 😳 It's scary stuff. So yeah, this new setting sounds like a lifesaver for journalists and other high-profile folks who are always at risk of being targeted. 👮‍♀️ I just hope it doesn't cause any problems for people who aren't trying to get hacked in the first place 🤔.

And I'm glad that WhatsApp is taking steps to improve security, it's about time 💯. I mean, end-to-end encryption is a good start, but this new feature takes it to a whole other level 🔒. It's just one less thing for users to worry about when they're trying to stay safe online 🤝.

I'm curious though, how are they going to stop people from using these settings if they don't know what they're doing? 🤔 Like, is there some kind of warning or something that will alert users if they accidentally enable the setting without knowing it's there? 💡.
 
I mean, think about it... if you're a high-risk user like a journalist or public figure, you should already be living in a vault 🤣🔒. But seriously, this new feature is kinda like having your own personal bodyguard – minus the part where they can't leave their job to go get ice cream 🍦. On a more serious note, it's about time WhatsApp stepped up its security game! I mean, those Pegasus spyware attacks are no joke 🔥. It's good to see them taking proactive measures to protect users like us from those cyber threats. Now if only they could develop a feature that automatically deletes all your memes 😂...
 
I mean, I guess this is a good thing they're doing... but why do we have to use two separate devices now? Like, I'm already having to manage my life online enough, don't need to worry about which device has all the latest security settings 🙄. And what's up with only being able to turn it on on our main phone? WhatsApp for web users are basically just left out of the party... can we get some consistency here? 😒
 
Ugh 🤯 just thinking about all those hackers out there trying to steal our info 😱 is giving me anxiety 💀 I feel like we need these new settings ASAP 🚨 especially for journalists and public figures who are already under so much scrutiny 👮‍♀️📰 it's great that WhatsApp is taking steps to protect its users 🙏 the more layers of protection we have, the safer we'll be 💯 I'm all about empowering our security 🤝 can't wait to try out these new settings and see them in action 🔴✨
 
[Image of Grumpy Cat with a speech bubble saying "Finally!"]

[Animated GIF of a person turning on their phone settings, with a satisfied "Ah" sound effect]

[Image of Doge with the caption "Such good news for journalists and public figures!"]

[Video clip of a person trying to send an attachment on WhatsApp, only to have it automatically blocked by the new feature]

[Image of Snoop Dogg with the phrase "Security first, G"]
 
I'm glad they're finally doing something about it 🤔. I mean, we all know WhatsApp's got some big problems when it comes to security, especially with those Pegasus spyware attacks that went down last year 🚨. It's crazy how a company as big as Meta can't even keep its own app safe from hackers. Anyway, the new "Strict Account Settings" feature is definitely a step in the right direction - I mean, who doesn't want to protect their private chats from prying eyes? 💻 But, at the same time, I'm also thinking about how this might affect users who aren't exactly... high-risk 😐. Like, what if you're just someone who wants to have fun with WhatsApp without worrying about security? Do you still get all those extra features disabled just because of that one guy who's trying to hack in? 🤷‍♀️ I guess it's a trade-off, though - better safe than sorry, right? 💯
 
I'm getting more paranoid about online security with all these high-profile attacks 🤔. As someone who's been around for a while, I remember when we didn't even have encryption on our phones! Now, it's like we're under constant surveillance. WhatsApp is taking the right step by offering these new lockdown settings, though - it's about time we took control of our own security. I'm a bit annoyed they can only be enabled on devices, not online, but I guess that's just how it goes sometimes...
 
🤔 I think it's kinda cool that WhatsApp is finally taking steps to protect its users from those nasty cyberattacks. I mean, with all the high-profile hacks that've been happening, it's only logical that they'd want to give people more control over their accounts. Like, who wants some sketchy sender sending you weird links and pics just because they found your number online? 🚫

I'm a bit surprised it took them this long to introduce something like this though. I mean, end-to-end encryption is great and all, but if the bad guys are already using Pegasus spyware, then maybe we need more than just encryption to keep us safe online. 💻
 
OMG u guys! 🤯 I'm loving this new update from WhatsApp 📱💻!! As someone who uses their app daily, I've been thinking we need more security features ASAP ⏰. It's not just about protecting ourselves but also our loved ones and especially high-risk users like journalists & public figures 📰👥. These new settings are literally a lifesaver for them! 👍 Can't wait to enable this feature on my primary device 📱💻. Meta's been doing some shady stuff lately, so it's great to see WhatsApp taking proactive steps towards user security 💪
 
I'm low-key hyped about this new update for WhatsApp 🤩. I mean, think about it, we've been using that app to stay connected with our loved ones and share funny memes for years, but now they're adding all these extra layers of protection? It's like, about time, right? 😂 I'm a bit worried that it might be a hassle to set up, but if it means keeping me safe from those pesky cyberattacks, then I'm down. 💻 The fact that it's specifically targeting high-risk users, like journalists and public figures, is genius 👏. I just hope they don't limit our ability to share funny cat videos 🐈😹.
 
I'm all for it 💯🔒! I mean, who doesn't want an extra layer of protection when it comes to their online safety? It's about time WhatsApp took proactive steps to safeguard its users from those pesky cyber threats 🤖. And let's be real, if you're a journalist or public figure, this feature is basically a lifesaver 😂. I've got friends who are super active on WhatsApp and they love the fact that they can control their own security. It's great to see Meta taking responsibility for its users' well-being 🤝. The fact that it's now available on devices only (not web) might be a bit of a pain, but hey, you get what you pay for 🤑
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top