WhatsApp has begun the global rollout of a new “Strict Account Settings” feature, a high-security mode designed to protect journalists, public figures, and other high-risk individuals from sophisticated digital threats.
The new mode, located under Settings > Privacy > Advanced, allows users to activate a suite of restrictive protections with a single toggle. When enabled, the app automatically blocks media and attachments from unknown contacts, disables link previews to prevent tracking, and silences calls from unrecognized numbers.
The rollout follows a similar “Lockdown Mode” introduced by Apple in 2022 and Google’s “Advanced Protection” for Android. These features are designed to reduce the “attack surface” available to hackers using sophisticated spyware.
The update comes as WhatsApp faces renewed scrutiny over its privacy claims. In a statement posted to X, Atulktishan defended the app’s security protocols following recent criticism from Elon Musk regarding the platform’s integrity.
Specifically, the official statement from WhatsApp on X noted: “Your WhatsApp messages are private. We use the open-source Signal protocol to encrypt them.”
WhatsApp emphasized that encryption keys are generated solely on-device and are not accessible to Meta. “Only the intended recipient has the keys to decrypt messages,” the statement added, asserting that any claims to the contrary are false.
The company said the “Strict” mode is intended for those at extreme risk and may limit some app functionalities in exchange for the heightened security. The feature is currently rolling out to users globally on both iOS and Android.
For more details about the latest privacy protections, visit blog.whatsapp.com.
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