WhatsApp wants to better protect its users from fraudsters.
The messaging service wants to use a phantom call to verify the account.
Mountain View - you get a
call
on
and nobody can be heard on the other end of the line or hangs up straight away?
No
need
to worry:
wants to use these phantom
calls to
increase the security of its users.
The background to the innovation is that when verifying new accounts, accounts of criminals are often stolen.
Areamobile
reports that
this
should be prevented in future with the short call
.
The prerequisite for this, however, is that the user concerned
has given
authorization to access his call list.
WhatsApp: double security through SMS and phone calls
If a user
installs WhatsApp for the first time
, a six-digit code is sent to them via SMS. In the past, however, fraudsters were able to secure the code and thus steal the user account. According to
WABetaInfo
,
WhatsApp is
currently working on the function of additionally verifying the accounts with the help of a phone call. After the user has received the usual SMS, the messenger service calls the specified number and immediately hangs up. However, this function must be activated in advance by the account holder. If he doesn't, the usual SMS remains.
With the help of the call,
WhatsApp can
check whether the SMS and the call went to the same number in order to rule out fraud.
The verification is interrupted immediately if the messenger service notices that the numbers are different.
WhatsApp update only suitable for Android devices
At the moment, however, the new function is still in a test phase and has not yet been rolled out for users.
It is not yet possible to foresee when the new security update can be used.
However, it is already clear that not all smartphone users will be able to access the new function.
Owners of Apple devices look deeply in this regard.
WABetaInfo
reports that Apple does not allow access to the appropriate interface.
Thus, the new type of verification of
WhatsApp is
currently only planned for Android devices.
WhatsApp
users can also look forward to another innovation recently presented by Facebook and WhatsApp owner Mark Zuckerberg.
With our brand new consumer newsletter you will always stay up to date on consumer information and product recalls.