WhatsApp’s new Privacy Checkup menu gives you the option to block unknown callers, but that’s not the only way to protect your one-on-one conversations and thriving group chats.
The messaging app has come a long way in terms of privacy and security, and you’ll find plenty of options in the new menu. Not bad for a service that once threatened a mass exodus after its parent company, Meta, suggested that share user information with Facebook and Instagram.
We can’t cover everything Privacy Checkup has to offer, but these are our favorite features – you should enable them if you haven’t already. You can access this new menu on Android by tapping the three dots in the top right corner of the screen, select InstitutionsThan Privacy. The steps are similar on iOS, but you start with Institutions in the bottom right corner of your screen, then tap Privacy. Regardless of the operating system, you will see one Privacy Checkup banner at the top of the screen: Tap it to start.
Block unknown callers on WhatsApp
The most exciting feature in the Privacy Control menu is the new ability to automatically block calls from unknown numbers. This was a serious concern in India (WhatsApp’s largest market), where users received a deluge of spam calls that were so serious the Indian government got involved.
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Set this feature in the Privacy Control menu by tapping Choose who can contact youThan Silence unknown callers. The next screen has only one switch, which you can turn on to activate the feature.
After that, calls from numbers not saved in your contact list will not go through, but you can still see them in WhatsApp’s To call to action tab. This way, if you recognize a number later, you can still call it back or save it in your contacts.
Lock WhatsApp with your biometric data
If your entire household knows your passcode and you want to add an extra layer of security to your chats, this is the way to do it. WhatsApp uses whatever biometrics you’ve already set up with your phone. This means you can use your face or fingerprint, depending on your device’s ability to support it.
From the Privacy Control menu, go to Add more protection to your account and choose Unlock with biometrics or Screen lock. To activate the feature, turn on the switch on the next screen. Once you do, WhatsApp will let you decide how the lock works.
The first thing to set is when you want the app to lock itself. You can verify your identity as soon as you switch apps or your phone locks itself (choose Immediately), or you can choose a grace period of one or thirty minutes during which the app remains unlocked. Note that if you choose anything other than “immediately,” WhatsApp will remain accessible during that time, even if you lock your phone.
Encrypt your backup
WhatsApp used to be vulnerable to governments access to its users’ data. This is because the app uses Google Drive and iCloud to store backups, leaving Google and Apple the final say on whether a third party can see this information. Not ideal.
The solution was not to change where users stored their backups, but to give them the option to encrypt their data. That way no one, not even Meta, would be able to decipher it. However, this feature isn’t enabled by default, so you’ll need to dive into the settings to activate it.
[Related: 4 reasons you should be using WhatsApp Web]
Choose Privacy Control from the menu Add more privacy to your chats and tap End-to-end encrypted backups. On the next screen you will find more information about this feature, including the current size of your WhatsApp backup. Crane To turn on Get on.
The next step is to set up an encryption key that will allow you to access your data in the future. There are two methods you can use: create a password or use a 64-digit encryption key.
Crane Create a password and follow the steps to do just that. If you don’t use a password manager (you definitely should, by the way), you can opt for a 64-digit passcode provided by WhatsApp. Don’t worry – this isn’t some seemingly endless one-line song that you have to scribble on a sticky note somewhere. They are 16 groups of four characters each (numbers and letters) that you can take a screenshot of and save in a safe place. You’ll still have to enter the key manually, but if you’re the kind of person who keeps dialing the same three passwords over and over, this could be a more secure solution. Crane Use a 64-digit encryption key for WhatsApp to show you the code. Once you’ve written it down or taken a screenshot, tap I have my 64 digit encryption key and you’re good to go.
A big warning: whichever method you choose, make sure you’ve backed up your password or encryption key in a safe place. If you lose it and later want to set up a store on a new device, the ability to access your backup depends on whether you still have access to WhatsApp. If so, you can go into the app and disable backup encryption. But if you get a new phone because you lost yours, for example, or if you uninstall the app before installing it elsewhere, you’ll lose everything and have to start over. Yes, that includes your precious sticker collection.
It sounds scary, but these and the rest of the above privacy and security features are there to protect you and your data. Have a look around the Privacy Control menu and see what else you can find that might be useful to you. Then go poke around in the settings of your other apps and make these checks a habit.