The social media giant instant messaging and communication platform WhatsApp introduces passkeys on Android devices. This way the users will be able to log back into their accounts easier and with added protection.
The passkey protection will be available on the latest beta version of WhatsApp on Android mobile phones. The news of the introduction of passkeys in the platform of WhatsApp was announced through Twitter, another social media giant that was recently renamed X.
What Is A Passkey?
Passkeys are a security substitute for using a password. When you use a password to log in back to your account you might need to type in the password, and might also need to type in the OTP sent to your device as part of a verification process.
When these passwords are replaced by passkeys, you will only need to verify your authority by fingerprint or face recognition. Passkeys can be used to log in to your already existing accounts in other service platforms as well as applications. When you use the fingerprint or face, the smart device that you are using verifies that you, the owner of the account, are trying to log in back to the account and hence access will be granted.
Some Features Of Passkey That You Need To Know
What Did The Officials At WhatsApp Have To Say?
Alice Newton-Rex, the Head of Product at WhatsApp, has said earlier that the passkey verification would make logging back into WhatsApp easy and more secure. He added that the whole team behind this was excited to launch passkey on WhatsApp and to provide all the users with an added security layer.
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What Was The Previous Login Back Process Of WhatsApp?
Before the introduction of passkeys, you needed an OTP and six-digit PIN to complete the two-factor authentication, although the second was not mandatory.
The already existing fingerprint lock option in WhatsApp will not be altered with the introduction of passkeys. The passkey support means that it uses the data stored in the built-in face or fingerprint identification feature in your device. whatsapp also introducing New Privacy Features.
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Are Passkeys Mandatory For Android WhatsApp Users?
It is to be noted that, as of now, WhatsApp only supports passkeys as a login back option, and it is not the only mandatory one. You can still log in back, by typing in the mobile number and OTP.
However, we do not know whether WhatsApp will make it mandatory in the future.
