LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – WhatsApp introduces passkey support for Android, enabling secure logins with biometrics or device PINs.
In the past, WhatsApp required users to log in with a one-time password (OTP) and an optional six-digit PIN for two-factor authentication.
With the new passkey support, Android users can utilize their phone’s built-in facial recognition or fingerprint authentication to log in using a passkey stored on their device.
This update comes a week after Google announced plans to eliminate traditional passwords and introduce support for passkeys on Android and the web.
While passkeys are now available on WhatsApp for Android, the existing fingerprint lock option remains, and users can also choose to log in using their phone number and an OTP.
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What are passkeys? Passkeys offer a secure alternative to traditional passwords for logging into apps and services.
Instead of entering a password and an OTP, users can verify their identity by using their smartphone’s fingerprint or PIN.
Passkeys are based on Fast IDentity Online (FIDO) technology, utilizing public key cryptography and biometric authentication.
Key features of passkeys include:
- Strong security: Passkeys are stored on the device, adding an extra layer of protection even if WhatsApp’s servers are compromised.
- Improved privacy: Passkeys eliminate the need for passwords, making them less vulnerable to theft or hacking.
- Industry adoption: Companies like Adobe, Amazon, GitHub, Google, PayPal, and Uber are also working on or implementing passkey logins.
How to create a passkey on WhatsApp for Android:
- Open WhatsApp and go to the settings menu.
- Tap on Account > Passkeys > Create a passkey.
- Read the explanation of passkey functionality and tap Continue.
- A pop-up from Google Password Manager will appear, asking if you want to create a passkey for WhatsApp. Tap Continue.
- Use your phone’s screen lock method to enable logging in via the passkey.
- Your passkey is now generated via WhatsApp.
This feature has been confirmed on WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.23.21.12. Users with the latest stable WhatsApp version may need to wait for the feature to be enabled on their devices.