WhatsApp continues to focus on security for its popular messaging service. In the future, the meta company will offer the activation and management of two-factor authentication via PIN not only on mobile devices, but also in WhatsApp’s web and desktop apps.
For some time now, WhatsApp users have been able to activate what is known as “two-step verification” within the messenger’s Google Android and Apple iOS apps, in order to protect their account from being reactivated by third parties if they lose their SIM card.
So far, however, the settings relating to the associated six-digit PIN code have only been possible via the company’s smartphone apps. That should change in the future.
Desktop 2FA planned, but no date for an update yet
As the resourceful bloggers from WABetaInfo report, the developers are planning to integrate two-factor authentication (2FA) for the frequently used web and desktop applications of their chat software. However, the advantages are limited, since the settings outside of the smartphone apps only seem useful if you lose your smartphone, forget your PIN and lose access to your email at the same time. A scenario that (hopefully) email addresses that are also secured by 2FA should only rarely occur.
WhatsApp also offers regular updates for its desktop versions. / © BongkarnGraphic / Shutterstock.com
The actual security of two-step verification is debatable. It is only used when activating a new smartphone or at irregular intervals when unlocking the app. If third parties gain access to a smartphone and the 2FA PIN is not requested when WhatsApp is opened at that moment, the security mechanism can be deactivated and the PIN and email address can be changed without entering the code. Why the current PIN does not have to be entered is beyond us.
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