WhatsApp bolsters security on iOS with Touch and Face ID support

The latest WhatsApp update allows iOS users to add an extra layer of biometric security to the application. Fans of the Facebook-owned chat service will now be able to utilise Apple’s proprietary Touch ID and Face ID thanks to a new feature called Screen Lock.

Apple’s fingerprint-based Touch ID has been around for quite some time, originally appearing on the iPhone 5S in 2013. It has since been replaced by Face ID, Apple’s facial recognition technology that debuted on 2017’s iPhone X and has since carried over to the XS series.

WhatsApp updated its application to version 2.19.20 on iOS, which now allows iPhone users to add the requirement of using Touch ID or Face ID when opening the application. The option is accessed through the Settings, navigating through to Account, Privacy and then enabling Screen Lock. This allows the highly-regarded Signal Protocol to handle security over the net while biometric security takes care of things offline.

Although there seemed to be plans to add a native passcode a few years ago, WhatsApp still has yet to fulfil this desire for a universal layer of security. Users are currently opting for third-party alternatives to help alleviate this annoyance, however Android’s beta version 2.19.3 indicates that both passcodes and fingerprint scanning for the platform could be on its way.

KitGuru Says: It’s good to see iOS users getting the security they deserve. I only hope the same can be said for Android soon enough.

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