Keep your chats secure: WhatsApp's new fingerprint lock
Delhi : Several Android OS skins from well-known companies like Xiaomi give the ability to lock specific apps, preventing unauthorized access with verification, which is occasionally biometric. With some of the apps in the Play Store, the feature can also be introduced to stock Android, albeit there may be a reliability issue with these. With the continued development of a per-chat biometric lock built into WhatsApp, Meta seems to be moving in the correct path in light of the private nature of WhatsApp talks.
The absence of in-app biometric authentication alternatives for an app with a much publicized focus on privacy and security is striking. Luckily, WABetaInfo notes that the most recent WhatsApp beta update (version 2.23.8.2) available on the Play Store shows evidence of a new feature in development.
Users will be able to lock specific chats using a passcode or fingerprint, however only the latter option's toggle is accessible. We anticipate that a passcode will need to be set up as a backup to the fingerprint unlock.
The screenshots imply that you will be able to lock private group chats from the group info area. Also, it looks that all of the encrypted chats will be transferred to a virtual vault separate from your regular chats, requiring only a single login. WABetaInfo reports WhatsApp will wipe the conversation if users want to force the chat open, such as in the event they forget their passcode, even though it isn't evident from the screenshots that have been posted.
What happens to the media in the talks, how alerts from these chats will display, and how many chats we may lock are all unknown. Despite being one of the most widely used encrypted messaging apps, WhatsApp isn't the first to introduce this functionality. For instance, Telegram has offered passcode or fingerprint unlock since about 2018, but only for the app as a whole rather than for specific chats, so it is unclear why WhatsApp isn't following suit.
As development and beta testing proceed, or when the feature is released, more information should become available. You would be better off using the OS-level or third-party app lock utilities while waiting for that to happen.
