CALIFORNIA: WhatsApp users may soon experience enhanced security through passkey support, joining the trend of substituting traditional passwords with biometric authentication, officials of the app said in a press statement on Saturday.
In a recent discovery, a hidden passkey setup menu was found in WhatsApp’s Android beta version, allowing fingerprint, facial recognition, or screen lock verification, Western media reported.
Although the feature remains in development, it suggests a potential shift towards adopting passkeys instead of conventional passwords. Passkeys, endorsed by prominent entities like the FIDO Alliance with Apple, Google, and Microsoft, provide a more robust authentication. Apple’s iOS 17, which automatically assigns passkeys for authentication, is a prime example of this shift.
Notably, platforms like TikTok and 1Password have already embraced the incorporation of passkeys. As for WhatsApp, an official release date for this security enhancement is yet to be confirmed.
