- Meta has added a Strict Account Settings mode in WhatsApp to protect high-risk users from advanced cyberattacks.
- The mode locks several settings to restrictive defaults, blocks attachments and media from unknown senders, and silences calls from unknown numbers.
- The feature will roll out gradually and is reachable under Settings > Privacy > Advanced.
- WhatsApp also moved key media sharing code to Rust and released a cross-platform library to reduce memory-safety risks.
Meta on Jan. 27, 2026 announced a new security option for high-risk users on WhatsApp, designed to reduce exposure to sophisticated spyware and targeted attacks. According to the company, the feature locks account settings to the most restrictive options, blocks attachments and media from people not in contacts, and silences calls from unknown numbers; the announcement appears in the official blog post.
The Strict Account Settings mode joins protections similar to Lockdown Mode on iOS and Advanced Protection on Android. Meta said that users can enable the mode at Settings > Privacy > Advanced and that the rollout will occur over the coming weeks. "This lockdown-style feature bolsters your security on WhatsApp even further with just a few taps by locking your account to the most restrictive settings like automatically blocking attachments and media from unknown senders, silencing calls from people you don’t know, and restricting other settings that may limit how the app works."
In parallel, the company described a major engineering change to improve memory safety in media handling. Meta’s engineering post states that WhatsApp adopted Rust for its media-sharing stack and released a cross-platform library called "wamedia." The firm said this deployment is the largest global rollout of any Rust library for their products.
To reduce memory-safety risks, WhatsApp outlined a three-pronged approach: design to minimize attack surface, invest in security assurance for existing C and C++ code, and choose memory-safe languages by default for new code. "WhatsApp has added protections like CFI, hardened memory allocators, safer buffer handling APIs, and more," the engineering post added.
✅ Follow BITNEWSBOT on Telegram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X.com, and Google News for instant updates.
Previous Articles:
- Ethereum Foundation launches post-quantum team, $1M AI prize
- Tesla’s Brand Value Plunges 36% to $27.61B in 2025; BYD +23%
- Coinbase’s Base Won’t ‘Support the Chart,’ Says Jesse Pollak
- BNB Nears $900 as Nasdaq-Listed BNB ETP Spurs Rally Upticks!
- Gold Surges to $5,000; Forecast Eyes $19,409 by 2030: China!
