WEB DESK: In a recent beta update, WhatsApp is preparing to rollout an improved chat lock feature for users who use linked devices.
Since its launch in May 2023, the chat lock feature has been instrumental in enhancing message privacy, especially within group chats and personal conversations.
However, a notable drawback arises when the feature is combined with the linked devices functionality, which was introduced just a month prior to the chat lock feature.
Currently, activating the chat lock results in the designated chat being separated into a dedicated “locked chats” section, distinct from the regular app interface. However, the separation does not extend to linked devices, where the locked chat remains visible like any other conversation.
Read More: NASA to launch rockets into solar eclipse
According to media reports, the parent company META is actively refining the chat lock experience for users with linked devices.
Within the latest WhatsApp Beta version 2.24.8.4, evidence suggests the inclusion of a code-based lock mechanism, allowing users to unlock a chat on their primary phone. The “secret code” is managed through the primary phone’s chat lock settings, potentially serving as a safeguard against unauthorised access via alternate credentials like device PINs, fingerprints, or Face Unlock data on secondary devices.
The reports said that the dedicated code aims to address a significant privacy concern associated with chat lock usage on linked devices, where biometric data could potentially be altered or removed. However, It’s worth noting that this feature is currently in development, and it may be some months before a fully functional version is released for beta or stable WhatsApp builds.
