WhatsApp Enables Lockdown for High-Risk Accounts

WhatsApp enables a lockdown feature designed to defend high-risk users from sophisticated cyber threats, according to an announcement from Meta. The new “Strict Account Settings” option empowers users to apply the most restrictive privacy controls with just a few taps. Once activated, the feature blocks attachments and silences calls from unknown contacts, limiting potential attack vectors.

Users can turn on the feature by navigating to Settings > Privacy > Advanced. Rolling out in the coming weeks, this adds to WhatsApp’s ongoing security reinforcements. Meta is also deploying Rust, a memory-safe programming language, to fortify its media-sharing systems. WhatsApp’s new “wamedia” library, built with Rust, safeguards user content like videos and images from spyware.

Meta’s broader strategy integrates memory safety improvements and secure-by-design coding practices. Additional defenses include hardened memory allocators and safer buffer handling. With this update, WhatsApp enables a lockdown approach as part of its defense-in-depth model.

Read the official announcement here:

WhatsApp rolls out Strict Account settings to strengthen protection for high-risk users