A new WhatsApp update will stop people screenshotting their private conversations. The new feature, which comes as part of a suite of security changes, in line with the app’s commitment to privacy seems strangely integrated.
Currently whatsapp doesn’t appear to block
someone taking screengrabs of your chats, perhaps to avoid them being shared
with other people, according to WABetaInfo, the blog that first reported on the
changes. Instead, it means that you turn on the app’s highest security
settings, you won’t be able to take grabs of your own.
The change comes as part of an authentication
feature that has been long rumoured but is yet to appear within WhatsApp.
WABetaInfo, who look at beta versions of the
app for clues about forthcoming features, shared a screenshot showing details
of the update.
That feature allows people to set fingerprint
access to conversations, adding a further layer of security so that people
can’t get access to your phone and read or send private messages.
The alert said: ‘Fingerprint security – When
enabled, fingerprint is required to open WhatsApp and conversation screenshots
are blocked.
‘You can still reply to messages from
notifications and answer calls if WhatsApp is locked.’
The feature will allow users to enable
fingerprint authentication within WhatsApp, meaning users will have to scan
their fingerprint to access their chats.