WhatsApp has introduced an optional two-step verification feature to prevent other people from gaining unauthorised access to your messaging account.
In a statement on its website, the popular messaging application announced that the feature, after testing it since November, is now available to all Android, Windows and iOS users.
“Two-step verification is an optional feature that adds more security to your account. When you have two-step verification enabled, any attempt to verify your phone number on WhatsApp must be accompanied by the six-digit passcode that you created using this feature.”
To enable the feature on your device, open WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Two-step verification > Enable.
“Upon enabling this feature, you can also optionally enter your email address. This email address will allow WhatsApp to send you a link via email to disable two-step verification in case you ever forget your six-digit passcode, and also to help safeguard your account.
“We do not verify this email address to confirm its accuracy. We highly recommend you provide an accurate email address so that you’re not locked out of your account if you forget your passcode.
“If you receive an email to disable two-step verification, but did not request this, do not click on the link. Someone could be attempting to verify your phone number on WhatsApp.
“If you forget your own passcode, but did not provide an email to disable two-step verification, even you will not be permitted to re-verify on WhatsApp within seven days of last using WhatsApp. After these 7 days, your number will be permitted to re-verify on WhatsApp without your passcode, but you will lose all pending messages upon re-verifying – they will be deleted.
“If your number is re-verified on WhatsApp after 30 days of last using WhatsApp, and without your passcode, your account will be deleted and a new one will be created upon successfully re-verifying.
“To help you remember your passcode, WhatsApp will periodically ask you to enter your passcode.”
Before now, WhatsApp introduced end-to-end encryption to prevent third party access to messages.
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