Instagram and Messenger are expected to inherit the end-to-end encryption their stablemate WhatsApp enjoys, but in the meantime if you’re using WhatsApp and an iDevice you can enjoy another layer of security: biometric authentication. Peeping significant others will soon need to find other ways to access bae’s messages.
The feature is only available on iOS for now as it uses Apple’s built-in Touch ID and Face ID security systems. The newest update is already available and adds additional security measures to your private messages. The new setting is called ‘Screen Lock’, and gives you the ability to unlock the app via fingerprint or face.
It’s important to note that the new feature doesn’t work on a per-chat basis and instead locks up the entire app. Notifications will still appear on the screen if you have them turned on (and you can still reply to messages from those notifications) and you’ll still be able to see and answer WhatsApp calls.
Touch ID is available on the iPhone 5S, iPad Air, iPad mini and newer, while Face ID is available on the iPhone X, iPad Pro (2018) and later. Just go to the App Store and download the latest WhatsApp update to gain access to ‘Screen Lock’.
Source: TechCrunch
