WhatsApp is testing a phone-free way to log into your account during emergencies

Date:
Wed, 22 Nov 2023 05:00:13 +0000

Description:
WhatsApp is now allowing people to use their email as a login method, however it's currently only available on iOS.

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As part of a new iOS update, WhatsApp is introducing an alternate sign-in method that allows users to log in by entering their email.

So far, Meta has yet to make a formal announcement regarding the upgrade.
Were learning about this through WABetaInfo . They explain this tool can be helpful if youre ever in a situation where you dont have cellular service and are unable to get the code through a text message. Hints of this upcoming feature were first seen in a beta back in early November . However, access
was restricted to a few people. Moving forward, iPhone owners can enter their personal email where they will then receive a six-digit code to sign in.

Keep in mind that this is strictly a backup method. You will still need to enter a phone number in order to create a brand new WhatsApp account. Of course, logging in with the number will remain an option. 9To5Mac in its coverage states emails will only be used to access the account and wont be visible to others.

To try out the feature, iPhone users will need to install WhatsApp for iOS version 23.24.70. From there, go to the Settings tab then tap Account where youll find the email login option. No word on whether or not this update will expand to Android. The latest WhatsApp beta for Android, according to WABetaInfo , adds a filter for status updates on the platform and not much else. Growing security

This patch is part of a continuing effort by Meta to grow and expand
WhatsApps security. 2023 has been a busy year for the service as it has seen the introduction of the Protect IP Address tool to relay phone calls through company servers as well as support for passkeys . In the future, WhatsApp is slated to have usernames implemented on Android as an extra layer of privacy if someone doesn't feel comfortable with sharing their name. Its unknown when well see this rollout. The last time we heard about it was all the way back
in May. Presumably, its still under development

Security is always at the forefront of WhatsApp, but things dont always end with apps. If youre interested in taking data protection to the next level, check out TechRadars list of the best secure smartphones for 2023 . You might also like WhatsApp's built-in AI chatbot looks like its rolling out to more people Your WhatsApp backups on Android will soon eat into your Google Drive storage WhatsApp is testing a new self-destructing voice messages feature



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/whatsapp-is-testing-a-phone-free- way-to-log-into-your-account-during-emergencies


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