WhatsApp lets users swap PINs for passwords, adds multiple passkeys
WhatsApp is rolling out stronger account-security options, letting users replace their six-digit PIN with a full password containing letters, numbers and symbols, and allowing multiple passkeys across Android and iOS devices. The Meta-owned app is also giving users more context on unknown callers, such as whether a number originates from another country.
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With over 2 billion users, WhatsApp remains a prime target for hackers and scammers, so tightening account-recovery options reduces the risk of takeovers via weak PINs. These updates follow recent additions like scam alerts and optional usernames, signaling a broader push by Meta to make WhatsApp harder to exploit as phishing and impersonation scams grow more sophisticated.
- Users can now upgrade six-digit PINs to full alphanumeric passwords for two-step verification.
- Multiple passkeys are now supported on both Android and iOS.
- New caller context features aim to help users spot suspicious or international spam calls.
Yubico YubiKey 5C NFC Security Key — With WhatsApp pushing passkeys and stronger passwords, a hardware security key is the natural next step for locking down your accounts. The YubiKey 5C NFC works over USB-C or by tapping it to your phone, so you can protect your messaging, email and social logins with a physical key that phishers can't copy.
See Yubico YubiKey 5C NFC Security Key on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: cnet.com — Alex Valdes, 2026-08-25
Published there as: “WhatsApp Adds Security Measures to Help Prevent Accounts From Being Hacked”
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