Secure Your WhatsApp Backups with Passkeys
▼ Summary
– WhatsApp is introducing passkey-encrypted backups for iOS and Android to secure chat backups without passwords.
– Users can encrypt their message history using their face, fingerprint, or device screen lock code for enhanced security.
– The update is rolling out gradually over the coming weeks and months, building on existing end-to-end encryption for backups introduced in 2021.
– Passkeys replace the previous requirement for a 64-digit encryption key or password, simplifying the backup security process.
– This expansion follows WhatsApp’s 2023 passkey support for account logins, moving toward a passwordless future to protect user memories and data.
WhatsApp is now rolling out a new, password-free method for instantly securing your chat backups on both iOS and Android devices. This feature allows you to encrypt your entire message history using your device’s built-in authentication, such as facial recognition, your fingerprint, or your screen lock PIN. The update is being released gradually over the next several weeks and months, making it simpler than ever to apply the same strong security that already protects your live chats and calls.
Previously, WhatsApp offered end-to-end encrypted backups starting in 2021, but the process required users to either save a lengthy 64-digit encryption key or create a separate password linked to that key. These steps could be inconvenient and easy to forget. With the introduction of passkeys, those cumbersome requirements are eliminated. Passkeys are a modern login technology that replaces traditional passwords with the secure biometric or lock screen methods already set up on your phone.
You can now secure your backup data with just a glance or a tap. WhatsApp first introduced passkey support for account logins in 2023, and this expansion to backups signals the platform’s clear move toward a password-free future. In its announcement, WhatsApp emphasized the importance of keeping your memories safe, noting that many users store years of valuable content, including photos, voice messages, and important conversations, within the app. Protecting this data is essential, especially if you lose your phone or upgrade to a new device.
(Source: The Verge)
