WhatsApp Users Might Be Able to Link Emails to Their Accounts

Maximizing the level of security users can take advantage of has been a primary concern for WhatsApp these past few years. Two factor authentication, encrypted backups, and the recently introduced Account Protection and Device Verification features are all part of this. In spite of the fact that this is the case, malicious actors have continued to be a major threat to WhatsApp users around the world.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that WhatsApp is now introducing a brand new feature that might make the platform safer than might have been the case otherwise. This involves allowing users to link their email addresses with their accounts as well as their phone numbers.

Users will still need a phone number in order to be able to use WhatsApp in the first place. In spite of the fact that this is the case, the addition of email verification can add a new level of security. It can prove quite useful because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing users to regain access to their accounts if they accidentally get locked out.

One thing that bears mentioning is that this feature is currently being tested out. There is no word yet on when it might see a wider rollout, and WhatsApp has clearly stated that whenever email verification becomes available, it will be an optional feature that users can skip if they so choose.

If a user finds that their device has been stolen, email verification can make it so that they would not really have to worry about being able to log into their WhatsApp. They can receive the sign in code on their email as well as on their phone number. However, continuing to require a phone number to begin with may not be something that a lot of users are all that enthused about. WhatsApp might look to decouple its accounts from phone numbers in the future in order to compete with apps like Discord which only require emails.

H/T: Wabetainfo

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World