In an era of sophisticated cyber espionage, WhatsApp has officially introduced Strict Account Settings. This specialized security mode is designed to provide an extra layer of protection for users at high risk of targeted attacks, such as politicians, journalists, human rights activists, and public figures.
Security Over Convenience
Similar to Apple’s Lockdown Mode, the "Strict" mode prioritizes safety by intentionally disabling several convenience features to minimize the "attack surface." Key restrictions include:
Blocked File Transfers: Automatically prevents receiving files or documents from unknown contacts.
No Media Previews: Disables all link and image previews to prevent "Zero-click" exploits hidden in metadata.
Silent Unknown Callers: Incoming calls from unsaved numbers will not trigger notifications.
IP Address Masking: Hides the user's IP address during calls by relaying through WhatsApp servers, preventing location tracking.
While many of these settings were previously available individually, the new mode allows users to toggle the entire high-security suite with a single click.
The "Pegasus" Factor
The primary driver behind this update is the rise of commercial spyware like Pegasus, developed by the NSO Group. Pegasus has been infamously sold to various governments including reports involving the Thai government to infiltrate devices via WhatsApp vulnerabilities. By hardening the app's defenses, WhatsApp aims to thwart these highly advanced, state-sponsored hacking tools.
- One of the main reasons for this mode is to prevent zero-click attacks, which are malware that can infiltrate a device simply by sending files or images via WhatsApp without the user even having to open them. Disabling image previews and locking files from strangers eliminates this vulnerability.
- In 2022, reports from iLaw and Digital Reach indicated that the Pegasus malware was used to attack over 30 activists and politicians in Thailand, mostly exploiting vulnerabilities in communication apps. This measure by WhatsApp is therefore a crucial defense in the Thai political context.
- Hiding your IP address means calls route through WhatsApp's servers (relay) instead of direct peer-to-peer connections. While this may slightly reduce audio quality or increase latency, it prevents malicious actors from tracing your real-time location.
- WhatsApp's adoption of iOS's Lockdown Mode reflects a shift from viewing "privacy" solely as a software issue to "denial of access" to achieving the highest level of security.
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Source - Meta
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