WhatsApp has introduced a new Strict Account Settings mode to protect people at higher risk of targeted attacks, such as journalists and public figures. The feature adds an extra security layer on top of WhatsApp’s default end-to-end encryption.
Users can turn it on via Settings > Privacy > Advanced which will be rolled out over the coming weeks.
When Strict Account Settings is enabled, WhatsApp locks several controls to their tightest options and prevents users from loosening them while the mode is active. An example is that it will block attachments and media from people who are not in your contacts, reducing the risk of malware or spyware sent from unknown numbers. You can also limitt can call or add them to groups.
Alongside Strict Account Settings, WhatsApp is also deploying components written in the Rust programming language in the background to harden its media pipeline against vulnerabilities exploited by spyware.
Rust’s memory-safety helps reduce entire classes of bugs that sophisticated attackers use to compromise messaging apps through malicious media files.
The combination of the lockdown-style mode and Rust-based backend components offers a higher-assurance environment for sensitive communications without changing WhatsApp’s familiar front-end experience for most users.
