WhatsApp Enhances Security with Passkey Support on iOS

WhatsApp is taking another step towards bolstering user security with the introduction of passkey verification on iOS devices. This feature, already available on Android for the past six months, eliminates the hassle of dealing with SMS one-time passcodes.

Announced on Wednesday, WhatsApp revealed that the passkey support is being rolled out globally and will gradually become accessible to all iOS users in the upcoming weeks. Once activated, iOS users can utilize passkey verification through facial recognition, biometrics, or a PIN stored on Apple’s passkey manager to log back into their WhatsApp accounts.

The implementation of passkey logins enhances security measures by making it more challenging for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to user accounts. This added layer of protection requires not only the passkey but also physical access to the device, mitigating remote hacking risks. Furthermore, passkeys negate the reliance on traditional username and password combinations, which are vulnerable to phishing attacks.

Enabling passkey verification is straightforward for WhatsApp users. They can access this feature by navigating to the app settings, selecting the “Account” options, and clicking on the newly added “Passkeys” button to configure their preferred verification method.

Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s head of product, expressed enthusiasm about the security enhancement, stating, “Passkey verification will make logging back into WhatsApp easier and more secure. We’re excited to launch this on WhatsApp and give users an added layer of security.”

WhatsApp joins a growing list of companies embracing passkey support, including X (formerly Twitter), Google, PayPal, and TikTok. This concerted effort reflects a broader industry trend towards enhancing user security and privacy across digital platforms.