Whatsapp Adds​ ​2-Step Verification Passcode — Enable This Safety Feature

WhatsApp has introduced a novel safety characteristic that fixes a loophole inwards the pop messaging platform, which if exploited, could permit an assaulter to hijack victim's concern human relationship amongst simply knowing the victim's telephone number too to a greater extent than or less hacking skills.

The laid on does non exploit whatever vulnerability inwards WhatsApp; instead, it relies on the agency the concern human relationship setup machinery works.

WhatsApp allows users to sign upwards to the app using their telephone number, thus if an assaulter wants to hijack your WhatsApp account, they would require an OTP (One fourth dimension password) ship to your telephone number.

The assaulter tin view this OTP past times diverting the SMS containing the passcode to their ain reckoner or phone, using either a malicious app or SS7 vulnerability, too thus log into the victim's WhatsApp account. The laid on fifty-fifty plant inwards illustration the telephone is locked.

In August, Iranian state-sponsored hackers reportedly hijacked over dozens of Telegram accounts belonging to activists too journalists past times exploiting a like loophole.

At that time, nosotros reported that such laid on could too live on used against whatever messaging app, including Whatsapp too Viber, whose registration is based upon SMS-based verification mechanism.

Also Read: How to Hack Someones Facebook Account Just past times Knowing their Phone Numbers.

So inwards gild to ready this issue, WhatsApp has at nowadays introduced Two-Step Verification (2SV) password characteristic for its Beta version for Android, which volition assist yous lock downwards the WhatsApp set-up mechanism.

In other words, to reconfigure the WhatsApp concern human relationship amongst two-step verification enabled, 1 must require non simply OTP but too a 6-digit 2SV passcode laid past times the user.

How to Enable Two-Step Verification

To enable two-step verification (2SV), yous ask to sign for the WhatsApp's Beta version, too follow these elementary steps:

1. Go to WhatsApp Settings → Account → Two-step verification.
2. Click enable, laid a 6-digit passcode too re-confirm it.
3. On adjacent screen, larn into your e-mail ID (optional) to enable passcode recovery via email. (It's recommended to purpose e-mail equally backup thus that you're non locked out of your concern human relationship if yous forget your passcode.)
4. Hit "Done, " too yous are all laid to go.

So, adjacent fourth dimension when yous reconfigure your WhatsApp concern human relationship on your novel telephone or desire to add together a novel telephone number to your account, the messaging app volition require yous to larn into too confirm this six-digit metro code.

Providing your e-mail address is optional, which if enabled, volition assist yous reset your passcode when yous forget it. Here's what WhatsApp explained almost e-mail option:

"We produce non verify this e-mail address to confirm its accuracy. We highly recommend yous supply an accurate e-mail address thus that yous are non locked out of your concern human relationship if yous forget your passcode. If yous have an e-mail to disable two-step verification but did non asking this, produce non click on the link. Someone could live on attempting to verify your telephone number on WhatsApp."

But what if yous forget the passcode subsequently setting it months ago?

For helping yous recollect your 2SV passcode, WhatsApp volition periodically inquire yous to larn into your passcode, too at that spot is no pick to opt out of this without disabling the 2SV feature.

For now, the characteristic is available exclusively on WhatsApp beta version, too the fellowship volition get-go rolling out two-step verification amongst the unloosen of a stable version for both the iOS too Android for over 1 Billion users inwards the coming weeks.

To taste two-step verification, yous tin sign upwards to decease a beta tester too update to WhatsApp (Beta) version 2.16.346 at 1 time from the Google Play Store.

Once signed up, your smartphone volition live on automatically updated to the WhatsApp Beta version inwards the adjacent app update cycle.