WhatsApp Strengthens Privacy Protections with New Security Features

WhatsApp is stepping up its privacy and security measures with the introduction of new features designed to protect users from sophisticated digital threats. The Meta-owned messaging platform is building on its existing end-to-end encryption to provide enhanced safeguards for individuals who face heightened security risks, including journalists and public-facing figures.

A blog post from WhatsApp highlighted the company’s goal of ensuring private conversations online are as secure as those held in person. While the platform already encrypts messages and calls to prevent external access, the new updates add an extra layer of protection against advanced cyber attacks.

Strict Account Settings

One of the key additions is a lockdown-style feature called Strict Account Settings. When enabled, this option applies the platform’s most restrictive privacy controls, limiting account functionality in ways that reduce exposure to potential security risks.

Under Strict Account Settings, users can block attachments and media from contacts not on their approved list, helping to prevent potentially harmful files from reaching their accounts. Certain settings are also locked once the feature is activated, preventing accidental changes that could weaken security.

The feature is being rolled out gradually and can be enabled through Settings > Privacy > Advanced. WhatsApp described it as part of a broader effort to shield users from the most sophisticated digital threats. Behind the scenes, the platform is using the programming language Rust to strengthen its defenses against spyware and other vulnerabilities, protecting messages, photos, and videos.

Advanced Chat Privacy

In addition to account-level protections, WhatsApp is enhancing privacy within individual chats and groups through its Advanced Chat Privacy feature. Introduced in April 2025, this setting prevents content from being exported outside the platform. It also stops media from auto-downloading to other devices and restricts messages from being used in AI tools.

The feature is designed to give users confidence that sensitive conversations remain confined to WhatsApp. It can be activated in both one-on-one chats and group conversations by tapping the chat name and selecting Advanced Chat Privacy. The company noted that the setting is particularly useful in group contexts, such as health support networks or local organising efforts, where confidentiality is crucial.

WhatsApp plans to expand protections under Advanced Chat Privacy in future updates. The rollout is available to all users on the latest version of the app, reflecting the company’s ongoing commitment to privacy and security.

These measures underscore WhatsApp’s focus on maintaining its reputation as a privacy-first messaging platform at a time when digital threats are growing increasingly complex. Users now have more control over who can access their messages and media, reinforcing the platform’s role as a secure communication tool.