After bringing Face ID to its mobile app in 2019, WhatsApp is now introducing biometric authentication to its web or desktop version.
Up until now, in order to link your WhatsApp user account to the browser or desktop version of the app, all you had to do is scan a QR code on your screen. Soon, however, you’ll be required to use biometric authentication like Face ID or Touch ID to do this.
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Essentially, the process will be getting more secure, in the sense that anyone with access to your phone could easily connect WhatsApp on their device. The new biometric requirement will be turned on by default on all iPhones running iOS 14 and includes the option to set up with either Touch ID or Face ID.
If, for any reason, you do not use either on your device, the account linking process will work the same way it has so far.
If you’re worried that WhatsApp might be able to get a hold of your biometric information, you needn’t. Touch ID and Face ID are processes that only take place on your device. The new process just makes it possible to further secure the linking process.
According to a WhatsApp spokesperson, the new feature will be rolling out on compatible devices in the next few weeks. The same should apply to any Android devices that use biometric authentication as well, but we don’t have any information about that right now.