Lots of WhatsApp users are receiving a pop-up message this month telling them to add an ‘extra layer of security’ to their account.
This is part of the Meta-owned platform’s two-step verification feature which has existed for years, but many are only just finding out about it.
WhatsApp advises ‘extra layer of security’
“Did you know you can set up a PIN to make your WhatsApp account more secure? Turn on two-step verification and double down on keeping your account safe,” the message says.
Two-step verification is an optional feature that adds more security to your WhatsApp account by setting up a personal pin.
This helps safeguard your account and makes sure nobody else can access it the pin needs to be entered to log in and make changes.
How to set up a pin on WhatsApp
To set up a pin on WhatsApp:
- Go to ‘Settings’
- Tap ‘Account’
- Press ‘Two-step verification’
- Click ‘Enable’
- Enter a six-digit pin of your choice
- Confirm it
- Enter an email address for extra security
- Tap ‘Next’.
- Confirm the email address
- Press ‘Save’ or ‘Done’
To help you remember your pin, WhatsApp will prompt you to periodically enter your PIN. If you forget it, you’ll need to wait seven days before you can reset it.
If you want to disable the pin, you can do so by going to Settings > Account > Two-step verification > Disable. To change it, go to Settings > Account > Two-step verification > Change Pin.
Extra security features in 2023
In April 2023, WhatsApp introduced extra security features including Account Protect, Device Verification and Automatic Security Codes.
“At WhatsApp, we believe that your messages should be as private and secure as an in-person conversation,” they said.
“Protecting your personal messages with default end-to-end encryption is the foundation of that security, and we’ll never stop building new features to give you extra layers of privacy.”
Account Protect means WhatsApp will ask for verification on your old device if you need to switch your account to a new device, to double-check that it’s really you.
Device Verification helps prevent malware by adding checks to help authenticate your account and better protect you if your device is compromised.
With Automatic Security Codes, WhatsApp will automatically verify that you have a secure connection to ensure you are chatting with the intended recipient.
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