How to protect whatsapp with password


How to Lock WhatsApp With Your Phone's Biometric Sensor

  • To lock WhatsApp on your phone, go to the app's settings and enable fingerprint lock or FaceID.
  • You'll need to unlock your phone each time you close WhatsApp or after one to 30 minutes.
  • You can protect your account with disappearing messages, chat archiving, and two-step verification.

WhatsApp is a messaging app that prides itself on security. All texts, chats, and video calls rely on end-to-end encryption so you can have confidence that nothing you do in WhatsApp can be intercepted or monitored.

It's possible to make WhatsApp even more secure, by protecting the app itself with whatever biometric security your phone has, such as fingerprints or Face ID. This way, even if someone gets physical possession of your phone, your WhatsApp messages will remain secure.

How to lock WhatsApp on Android

You can use your Android phone's fingerprint reader to ensure you're the only one who can open the app.

1. Open WhatsApp on your Android device.

2. Tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the screen and then choose Settings.

Start by going to the "Settings" screen on WhatsApp. Dave Johnson/Insider

3. Tap Privacy.

4. At the bottom of the screen, tap Fingerprint Lock.

Tap "Fingerprint Lock. " Stefan Ionescu/Insider

5. On the Fingerprint lock screen, turn on Unlock with fingerprint by tapping on the toggle on the right. 

6. Confirm your fingerprint by touching the sensor with one of the fingers you have registered with the phone.

7. Choose how long before WhatsApp requires a fingerprint scan to re-enter the app after you close it. You can choose Immediately, After 1 minute, or After 30 minutes.

When you turn on the fingerprint lock, you can specify how long before a fingerprint is required to unlock the app. Stefan Ionescu/Insider

Quick tip: By default, you will be able to preview the sender and message when you get a notification from WhatsApp on Android. If you don't want this, you can tap the toggle next to Show content in notification in the Fingerprint lock screen to turn it off.

How to lock WhatsApp on iPhone

You can lock WhatsApp on your iPhone with Face ID or Touch ID, depending upon what model iPhone you have. Regardless of which iPhone you have, the process is the same.

1. Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.

2. Tap Settings in the bottom right corner of the screen.

Tap "Settings" in the lower right corner of the screen. Stefan Ionescu/Insider

3. Tap Privacy.

4. At the bottom of the screen, tap Screen Lock.

5. On the Screen Lock page, you'll either see Require Face ID or Require Touch ID. Tap the toggle next to that option to turn this security feature on.

6. Choose how long before WhatsApp requires Face ID or Touch ID to re-enter the app after you close it. You can choose Immediately, After 1 minute, After 15 minutes, or After 1 hour.

When you turn on the Face ID or Touch ID lock, you can specify how long the app waits before requiring an unlock. Stefan Ionescu/Insider

Other ways to protect your WhatsApp messages

Besides locking your phone, there are other ways you can protect your WhatsApp account and messages from unwanted access. Here are a few more:

  • Enable disappearing messages: If you want to send someone a message that self-erases after a period of time, you can enable disappearing messages. Afterward, any message will disappear after a day, a week, or three months, depending on the length of time you've chosen.
  • Archive sensitive chats: Instead of deleting messages to hide them from anyone snooping through your WhatsApp, you can archive their respective chats instead. This will remove the chats from the Chats tab, but you can always access and restore them later on from the Archived screen.
  • Enable two-step verification: On top of biometrics, you can add an additional layer of protection to your account when setting up WhatsApp on a new phone by enabling two-step verification. To do that on both Android and iPhone, go to Settings > Account > Two-Step Verification and tap Turn On. You'll then need to enter a passcode and an email address (you can skip this).

Quick tip: Although the email address is optional when enabling two-step verification, you should enter it as a backup in case you forget your passcode.

Dave Johnson

Freelance Writer

Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider.

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How to Make WhatsApp More Secure and Private: 8 Tips

WhatsApp is among the best instant messengers out there, and if you are using it, there are some steps you should take to protect your security and privacy. This is above and beyond WhatsApp's built-in end-to-end encryption, enabled by default.

The encryption ensures that your messages can only be read on the recipient's phone. It's the same for voice calls and video calls, both of which are encrypted. However, here are key tips to help improve your WhatsApp privacy and security.

1. Enable Disappearing Messages for Sensitive Conversations

Even though WhatsApp encrypts all chats by default, sometimes you also want to be sure that there's no copy of your conversation in the future. This helps ensure that even if your device or the recipient's device falls into bad hands, you can be certain that none of your secret conversations can be seen.

WhatsApp's disappearing messages feature ensures that exchanged messages are automatically deleted for everyone after a specific period.

To activate Disappearing messages in a given chat, tap the contact's name at the top and select Disappearing messages. Next, choose a period after which a message will be deleted.

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2. Turn On Security Code Change Notifications

On WhatsApp, you can verify whether your chats are end-to-end encrypted using security codes. In the contact info screen, you can view these codes as a QR code or a 60-digit number.

When a new phone or laptop accesses an existing chat, a new security code is generated for both phones. And WhatsApp can send a notification when the security code changes. This way, you can check the encryption with your friend over a different messenger, ensuring its security.

To turn on security code change notifications, go to WhatsApp > Settings > Account > Security > Show security notifications and flip the toggle to green.

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On Android, tap Settings > Account > Security Notifications and toggle on Show Security Notifications on This Phone.

3. Enable Two-Step Verification

If a service supports it, you should be using two-factor authentication (2FA). This adds a periodic passcode to WhatsApp, bolstering security by ensuring your data isn't accessed by someone else. You can enable 2FA on WhatsApp, across all supported platforms.

With 2FA, WhatsApp allows you to create a six-digit PIN code that you can easily remember. Importantly, add your email address to retrieve that code in case you forget it. To reduce the chances of forgetting your code, WhatsApp has random, periodic checks for the passcode prompting you to enter it when you open the app. But that's not 2FA's purpose, anyway.

The purpose is to stop someone else from accessing your WhatsApp account without your consent, even if they have access to your number, like in SIM swap scams.

4. Lock WhatsApp With Fingerprint or Face Verification

Another cool feature to improve the privacy of your WhatsApp messages is to lock the app with your fingerprint or face. This ensures that only you can access WhatsApp even if you give someone else your device without a screenlock.

The only catch is this feature is only available on phones with facial or fingerprint verification. As such, there's no way to lock your WhatsApp app with a password. You'll have to use a third-party locking app if that's what you want.

On Android, you can lock your WhatsApp app by hitting the three-dot menu in the top right, selecting Settings > Privacy > Fingerprint lock, then toggling Unlock with fingerprint. You'll then be asked to add a fingerprint, and then you can select the standby time before WhatsApp is automatically locked.

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On iOS, go to Settings > Privacy > Screen Lock and toggle on Require Touch ID or Require Face ID. Finally, select the time standby time before WhatsApp automatically locks.

5. Encrypt Cloud Backups

The end-to-end encryption is awesome, but there's one loophole: WhatsApp backs up chats to Google Drive or iCloud. That way, if you reinstall it later, you can retrieve your old messages. But this backup isn't encrypted by default.

So if you really care about your privacy, you must enable end-to-end encryption for your WhatsApp backups. Remember, storing your data with Apple and Google might not protect you against eavesdropping by governments.

On Android, tap the three-dot menu in the top right and select Settings > Chats > Chat backup > End-to-end encrypted backup > Turn on. You can do the same on iPhone by going to Settings > Chats > Chat Backup > End-to-end encrypted backup > Turn on.

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On the next page, select one of the two methods (password or encryption key) that you prefer and finish the setup by following the guidance.

6. Beware of Common Scams

Since it's an instant messenger, you might get some scams on WhatsApp periodically. You need to know some of the popular ones and not fall for them. Socially engineered attacks are one way your WhatsApp messages can be hacked.

The most persistent ones talk about a premium version of WhatsApp, "WhatsApp Gold," or your account expiring. No matter how it's worded, the scam is about making you pay for WhatsApp. It shouldn't need to be said, but don't ever pay money for WhatsApp. The company has made it clear that WhatsApp will forever be free.

Read up on the most common WhatsApp scams and how to recognize and avoid WhatsApp spam, so you know what to avoid.

7. Get the Official WhatsApp Desktop Apps

To use WhatsApp on your computer, you need to link your phone with WhatsApp Web or the WhatsApp desktop apps. To be on the safe side, get the official desktop app. Unlike Android and iOS, where app stores are tightly regulated, the wider internet is less regulated.

You, therefore, might be tricked into accessing malicious websites masquerading as WhatsApp Web. There have also been some instances in the past of hackers creating malicious software that is advertised as WhatsApp desktop apps. These are two of the common WhatsApp security threats you should beware of.

To avoid such cases, use WhatsApp's official desktop clients. Sure, there could be better options than the official WhatsApp desktop client, but don't trade in security for a few extra features.

Download: WhatsApp for Windows | Mac (Free)

8. Adjust Your WhatsApp Privacy Settings

WhatsApp isn't the most private messenger out there, but it gives users at least some control. Go to Settings > Account > Privacy to see everything at your disposal.

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You can control who can see your WhatsApp Last Seen and online status, Profile photo, About, Status, and Live location. You can also turn off Read receipts here, so the blue check marks are switched off, and even adjust who can add you to groups. Additionally, use the Disappearing message timer to set a default timer when you enable the feature in a given chat.

There's no recommendation here; you can choose what works best for you.

Improve Your Privacy and Security on WhatsApp

Even with all these features, you should know that WhatsApp isn't completely secure. There are other more secure communication apps you can try instead. But for 99 percent of regular users, WhatsApp's security protocols should be good enough.

How to password protect WhatsApp and hide your chats from prying eyes

11/04/2020

Author: CHIP

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How to password protect WhatsApp and hide your chats from prying eyes

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To make WhatsApp more secure, you can set a password on the app or use other security methods. We tell you what blocking options the messenger offers and how to activate them.

Blocking access to WhatsApp

There are several features in WhatsApp settings that can be activated to prevent unauthorized access to your messages. Depending on which options your smartphone supports, they may vary.

  • Launch WhatsApp and open settings. On Android, click the three dots in the top right corner and then click Settings. On iPhone, select the settings icon in the lower right corner.
  • Select the "Account" section (Account), and then go to the "Privacy" menu.
  • In the privacy settings at the bottom of the page, you can find "Fingerprint lock" or "Screen lock". Depending on which security settings your smartphone supports, different options may be available here. Click on the option that will appear on your device.

Turn on this function by moving the slider. After that, more customization options will appear. You will be able to choose after what period of time the blocking should occur: immediately, after a minute or after half an hour. If you choose the first option, the application will be blocked as soon as you exit it, and will ask you to put your finger on the scanner when you open it again.

  • Operation

    Whatsapp stats: how to see how many messages you received and sent

How to set up two-factor authentication in WhatsApp

In addition to the blocking that you will need to remove when you open WhatsApp, two-factor authentication will make the application even more secure. When you set up WhatsApp on your smartphone, you will need to set up a PIN that will prevent people with unauthorized access to your SIM card from installing and using your WhatsApp.

  • Launch WhatsApp and open Settings.
  • Select "Account" and then click "Two-Step Verification".
  • Click "Enable" to start the setup.
  • When setting up, you must first enter a six-digit PIN and then confirm it.
  • You will then have the option to enter an email address where you can access WhatsApp if you forget your PIN.
  • Confirm your email again and setup is complete. From now on, WhatsApp will ask you for a PIN every time you set it up. In addition, the program will regularly ask for your password so that you do not forget it.

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How to set a password for a chat with one person in WhatsApp?

Many programs care about the data of their users, WhatsApp has the ability to password-protect a chat. The article will talk about how to set a password for a chat with one person in WhatsApp and how to put a password in WhatsApp for all dialogues.

  • Why do you need a password
  • How to set a password for Android
    • Lock for WhatsApp
    • Smart AppLock
    • Whats Messenger
  • How to set a password for WhatsApp on iPhone?
    • WhatsApp
    • Folder lock
    • Applock

Why do you need a password

The protection of correspondence in WhatsApp acts as an additional security, if the phone is lost, fraudsters will not be able to use confidential information.

How to put a password on android

There are several ways:

Lock for WhatsApp

  • Go to the Play Market;
  • Use the search engine to find an additional utility and install it;
  • Run the utility and enter a password for a specific or all chats, confirm the security key by re-entering;
  • Write an e-mail address and save it, it will help if you lose your password;
  • Press the "Enable" key. From the list that appears automatically, select an additional utility, it switches to another window at the top of the phone screen, confirm the action;
  • In the main menu of the application, select "Setting", the function will allow you to use the security key for all WhatsApp chats;
  • App Lock is activated at the end of the stages.

After each entry into the mobile application, it will automatically switch to the utility.

Smart AppLock

  • Install an additional utility through the Play Market;
  • Run the utility, select WhatsApp and enter the password.

Whats Messenger