These Powerful WhatsApp Features Will Protect You from Online Fraud; Every User Must Know These Details

WhatsApp Safety Features: WhatsApp's 'Silence Unknown Callers' feature automatically silences calls originating from numbers you have not saved in your contacts.

WhatsApp Safety Features: Cases of online fraud are constantly on the rise, and cybercriminals are adopting novel methods to swindle people. At times, they call while posing as bank officials; at other times, they present themselves as delivery agents, government employees, or company representatives. Their primary objective is to extract OTPs, banking credentials, or other personal details from individuals. In light of these escalating threats, WhatsApp has introduced several new security features designed to help users identify scams and safeguard their accounts.

Silence Unknown Callers: Relief from Unwanted Calls

WhatsApp's 'Silence Unknown Callers' feature automatically silences incoming calls from numbers that are not saved in your contact list. This does not mean the call vanishes completely; rather, it continues to appear in the 'Calls' tab and your notifications.

This feature helps users avoid the nuisance of repeated suspicious calls, allowing them to check—at their own convenience and without any pressure—who attempted to contact them. This makes it easier to avoid the panic and anxiety often induced by scammers.

When a message arrives from a new or unknown number, WhatsApp now displays additional contextual information. This includes details such as whether the sender is already in your contact list, whether you share any common groups, if the number originates from a different country, and whether the account was created recently or is an older one.

This information empowers users to make an immediate assessment regarding the trustworthiness of the sender. If anything appears suspicious, users can choose to block or report the contact instead of replying to the message.

Screen Share Warning

Many cyber fraudsters attempt to persuade people to share their screens during video calls. Once screen sharing is enabled, they can view banking apps, OTPs, or other sensitive information, which they can then exploit for malicious purposes. To mitigate this risk, WhatsApp now displays a warning message whenever a user attempts to share their screen with an unknown contact. This brief alert provides users with an opportunity to reconsider their action and can help prevent the accidental leakage of private information.

Device Linking Alerts

Cybercriminals often attempt to link your WhatsApp account to another device in order to gain access to your chats and personal data. WhatsApp now provides immediate notifications to the user regarding any such attempt. The notification also specifies the source from which the linking request originated. If a request appears suspicious, it can be immediately cancelled, thereby helping to prevent unauthorized access to the account.

Two-Step Verification

Two-Step Verification further reinforces the security of your WhatsApp account. Once this feature is activated, a unique six-digit PIN is required whenever the account is being re-verified or reset. In such a scenario, even if a scammer were to obtain your verification code, they would still be unable to access your account without the PIN. Cybersecurity experts regard this as one of the most effective methods for securing an account.

Security Strengthens Amidst Rising Scams

Cybercrimes—such as fraudulent calls, phishing messages, and social engineering—have become far more prevalent than in the past. Scammers are constantly devising new tactics to manipulate people into making hasty, ill-advised decisions. In this context, these security features introduced by WhatsApp not only enhance technical security but also serve to empower users through increased awareness.