One of the more secure instant messaging platforms out there is Meta’s WhatsApp. It offers features like: end-to-end encryption, encrypted backups, disappearing messages, strict viewing permissions, two-step verification for logging in, and many more.
WhatsApp isn’t stopping as it’s planning to introduce another feature to make sure your account is more secure. You’re already experiencing the two-step verification/PIN authentication to log in to your account. But with the feature Meta WhatsApp seems to be introducing now, the front door is going from 6-digit PIN authentication to a complete alphanumeric account password.
After digging into WhatsApp beta for Android (v2.26.7.8), folks were able to come up with the highlights of this development at WABetaInfo. The highlights show that users will be required to set a 6–20 character-long password.
The password of up to 20 characters will come with at least one letter and one number. The new feature of alphanumeric password makes bruteforcing into WhatsApp accounts very difficult for threat actors. Thus, if a threat actor performs a SIM swap to intercept messages and bypass 2FA, they will also have to input your 6–20 character-long password to enter your WhatsApp account. Setting an account password is completely optional though.
However, the feature isn’t out yet, as it’s still in the development stage. First, account password will roll out to beta testers, and in the near future, it will be everywhere.
