Meta’s WhatsApp might still be a little behind the curve in terms of features that other messengers take for granted (message scheduling, when?), but there’s no denying it’s one of the safest around. There’s usually a regular flow of security updates in the pipeline, and now WABetaInfo is reporting the messenger is working on a new feature that’ll block unwanted contacts and others from screenshotting your profile picture.
Better late than never
This isn’t the first time WhatsApp’s attempted to put unconsenting profile picture saving to rest. More than five years ago, WhatsApp removed the ability to download another user’s profile picture. That’s apparently all the attention it paid to the issue, however, as users were simply able to… screenshot the image and save it that way.
That’ll be changing soon, after WABetaInfo spotted the new security feature in the 2.24.4.25 update for Android. When a user attempts to screenshot another’s profile picture, they’ll be greeted with the prompt ‘Can’t take a screenshot due to app restrictions.” Obviously WhatsApp can’t stop bad actors from using a second device to capture the same image, but it should discourage at least a couple of people from taking that extra step.
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It’s not yet known whether the feature will be automatically applied to all users, or if it can be turned on and off at the flip of a switch. The app already has certain security features in place that allow users to prevent unwanted contacts from seeing their profile picture altogether, or until certain criteria are met. (You can change this by heading to Settings > Privacy > Profile photo, by the way).
We’ll get a clearer idea of how the feature works once it’s released to the public which, according to WABetaInfo, should be happening “over the coming weeks,” once the beta testers have had their fun.