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WhatsApp adds Strict Account Settings to harden targeted accounts against spyware

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Last updated
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H score 15
2 unique sources, 2 articles

Summary

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WhatsApp is rolling out Strict Account Settings to harden targeted accounts against spyware and unknown senders, reducing risk for journalists and other public-facing figures. The mode locks account privacy controls to more restrictive settings, blocks attachments and media from non-contacts, and silences calls from people the user does not know. Meta says the feature will be enabled gradually over the coming weeks.

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Timeline

  1. 27.01.2026 18:54 2 articles · 5mo ago

    WhatsApp Strict Account Settings rollout

    Initial Disclosure

    Meta adds Strict Account Settings to WhatsApp to lock targeted accounts to the most restrictive privacy and call settings, automatically block attachments and media from unknown senders, and silence calls from unfamiliar people as protection for journalists and other public-facing figures.

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  2. 27.01.2026 18:54 1 articles · 5mo ago

    WhatsApp Rust-based media sharing hardening

    Technical Analysis Update

    Meta expands WhatsApp media-sharing defenses by adopting Rust for the wamedia library and by adding protections such as CFI, hardened memory allocators, and safer buffer handling APIs to reduce memory-safety risk for users' photos, videos, and messages.

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