WhatsApp Launches High Security Mode for Users at Risk of Advanced Cyberattacks
WhatsApp has introduced a new high security option designed for users who face an increased risk of hacking and digital surveillance, joining a growing list of major U.S. technology companies offering enhanced protections at the cost of reduced functionality.
The messaging platform, owned by Meta Platforms, began rolling out the feature on Tuesday under the name Strict Account Settings. The setting can be enabled with a single tap and activates a suite of additional security measures aimed at limiting common attack vectors.
When enabled, the mode blocks media files and attachments from unknown senders, turns off link previews, and automatically silences calls from contacts who are not saved in the user’s address book. Cybersecurity researchers have identified all three features as potential pathways for advanced hacking, spyware, or surveillance attempts.
Although WhatsApp already protects user conversations with end to end encryption by default, the company says some users require more robust safeguards. The feature is aimed in particular at journalists, activists, and other public facing individuals who may be targeted by highly sophisticated cyber threats.
WhatsApp is now the third major technology company to roll out a dedicated security mode for high risk users. Appleintroduced Lockdown Mode in 2022 across iPhone and macOS, offering extreme protections by limiting message attachments, disabling link previews, and restricting FaceTime calls and certain web technologies. The feature was designed for a small subset of users facing targeted digital attacks.
More recently, Alphabet added Advanced Protection Mode to Android. That option similarly prioritises security over convenience by restricting app installations to the Google Play Store and limiting access to potentially risky software.
Cybersecurity experts have broadly welcomed WhatsApp’s move, viewing it as a meaningful step forward for the protection of civil society figures. Researchers at The Citizen Lab, based at the University of Toronto, say the feature will help shield dissidents and activists who are frequent targets of spyware campaigns, while also setting a higher benchmark for the wider technology industry.
As digital threats continue to evolve, the expansion of optional high security modes across major platforms reflects a shift toward giving users more control over their personal risk profile, allowing them to choose stronger protection even if it means sacrificing some everyday convenience.
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