- WhatsApp launches Chat Lock, a feature that helps secure sensitive conversations with a password or biometrics
- Users can choose the chats they want to lock and find them in a separate folder, without their notifications revealing anything
- Chat Lock is available today on Android and iPhone and will soon be enriched with new options
WhatsApp further strengthens the protection of the privacy of its users. The messaging app, which has more than 2 billion followers worldwide, has just unveiled a new feature. baptized Cat Lock, it allows users to secure conversations they deem sensitive with a password or biometricssuch as a fingerprint or facial recognition.
With Cat Lock, users can choose which chats they want to lock, whether they are individual chats or groups. These chats are then removed from the main inbox and placed in a specific folder, which can only be accessed by unlocking the phone or using biometrics. So even if someone else has access to the phone, they won’t be able to read those conversations. Added security, notifications from these chats are hidden and do not show message content or contact, just a generic indicator like “WhatsApp: 1 new message”.
For the little secret ones
According to WhatsApp, this feature is useful for people who occasionally share their phone with a family member, or in situations where someone else is holding their phone when an important message arrives. To activate Cat Lockjust tap on a cat’s name and select the option Cat Lock. To view locked chats, one needs to pull down on the inbox and enter the password or biometrics. Obviously, no one will mention the practical side for people who indulge in adultery when 4 out of 10 French people admit to searching their spouse’s phone…
“We are delighted to launch Chat Lock on WhatsApp, which allows our users to protect their most intimate conversations with additional security”a WhatsApp spokesperson said. “Our passion is finding new ways to help keep your messages private and secure.”
Cat Lock is available today on Android and iPhone, the company announced. WhatsApp also plans to add more options for Cat Lock in the coming months, as the ability to lock WhatsApp-related devices or to create a personalized password for chats, different from that of the telephone.
Cat Lock is part of WhatsApp’s desire to guarantee the confidentiality and security of messages. The app already uses end-to-end encryption, which prevents messages from being read by third parties, or the ability to delete messages sent by mistake.
