The WhatsApp Security Center will be available in English along with ten Indian languages, including but not limited to Hindi, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu.

The primary objective of the Security Center is to educate users about the plethora of privacy settings at their disposal on the app and provide guidelines for greater control over their accounts. Two-step verification, scam awareness, and group control are among the many features discussed.

This launch of the Security Center page comes in response to a flurry of reports by users receiving unsolicited calls from unrecognized foreign numbers.

An uptick in international calls and messages to WhatsApp users in India

There has been a recent spike in calls and messages to WhatsApp users in India from unknown international numbers. Disturbingly, job offers from unfamiliar numbers have also been reported, leading to some users being defrauded.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the IT minister, stated that the ministry would formally address this issue with Meta.

Responding to the minister’s concerns, WhatsApp acknowledged the escalation in international scam calls. It declared that its AI and ML systems had been enhanced to identify and curb such fraudulent occurrences swiftly. This enhancement is expected to slash the rate of fraudulent calls by a significant 50%.

A representative from WhatsApp stressed that the company prioritizes user privacy and security and stands in solidarity with the government’s efforts to safeguard its users.

WhatsApp urged its users to proactively block and report any suspicious accounts they may come across, particularly those involving calls or messages from international numbers or unknown sources.

WhatsApp has proactively raised awareness about its security measures among its user base, guiding them on using these features to avert spam calls and messages. WhatsApp recently kick-started the “Stay Safe with WhatsApp” campaign in India, an initiative to enlighten users about the array of safety features the platform offers, such as Two-Step Verification, Block and Report, and Privacy controls.

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Backup Password Reminder

WABetaInfo reports that WhatsApp is rolling out a fresh backup password reminder feature for Android and iOS users. This feature lets users validate their end-to-end encrypted backup password and alter it if inconsistencies arise. Users can pick a personal password or a unique 64-digit encryption key, providing their backups with end-to-end encryption. Notably, neither WhatsApp nor backup service providers (Apple and Google) can decrypt these backups or access the decryption key.

Screen Sharing on Video Calls

An exciting new feature coming to WhatsApp is screen sharing during video calls. A new icon will appear in the call control view, prompting users to commence screen sharing. Once activated, the user’s screen content will be captured and shared with the other party.

The report assures that users will have complete command over this feature. They can terminate screen sharing at any point, even while their screen content is being transmitted during the call. This feature will only be activated with the user’s explicit permission to share their screen content.

Unique Usernames

WhatsApp is currently crafting a username feature, allowing users to choose unique account usernames. Although not visible currently, as it’s still under development, the report states that WhatsApp will soon have a dedicated username section within the Settings > Profile menu.

The advent of usernames on WhatsApp will grant an extra privacy layer to users’ accounts. Rather than merely relying on phone numbers to recognize contacts, users will be able to select a unique and memorable username. This could potentially allow users to connect with others by just inputting a username in the app, bypassing the need to know their phone numbers.

New Settings Page

WhatsApp, now owned by Meta, is working on revamping the Settings interface for its Android app. This feature, still in the developmental stage, is yet to be available for beta testing.

The redesigned interface will introduce three new profile shortcuts: Profile, Privacy, and Contacts. These shortcuts aim to reduce scrolling for WhatsApp users looking to access these options. Additionally, WhatsApp plans to incorporate shortcuts for starred messages and linked devices into the app settings.

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According to the tech website WABetaInfo, the new screen-sharing feature will allow users to share their screens seamlessly during a video call. This feature is akin to what’s already available in Google Meet and Zoom meetings.

However, it’s worth noting that this feature might not be compatible with older versions of Android and may not function optimally during large group calls. Users with outdated WhatsApp versions may also face issues accessing content shared through screen-sharing.

To activate the feature, users must grant permission to share screen content. Those who update to the latest WhatsApp beta version might also notice slight changes related to the new bottom navigation bar.

Remarkably, the arrangement of some tabs within this bar has been changed. For certain users, the new bottom navigation bar now features the following tabs: Chats, Calls, Communities, and Status.

In addition, WABetaInfo reports that WhatsApp is in the process of developing a “WhatsApp usernames” feature. This will allow users to pick unique usernames for their accounts.

This feature aims to lessen dependence on phone numbers when identifying contacts, allowing users to choose unique, easy-to-remember usernames. Furthermore, WhatsApp could allow users to reach others within the app simply by entering these usernames, eliminating the need to know their phone numbers.

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The website WABetaInfo, known for monitoring updates and changes in WhatsApp builds, reported that the messaging platform is developing a username feature. Users will be able to select unique usernames for their accounts through this feature, although it’s currently under development and not visible yet. The report also suggested that a specific section for this feature would be found under Settings > Profile.

“The proposed username feature is set to provide WhatsApp users with an additional layer of privacy. Instead of relying exclusively on phone numbers to identify contacts, users could soon opt for a unique, memorable username. By enabling username selection, WhatsApp could enable users to connect with others by simply entering a username within the app, without knowing their phone numbers,” the report elucidates.

The development of the WhatsApp username feature is underway and will be rolled out to beta testers in an upcoming app update.

In other recent developments, WhatsApp introduced the ‘edit sent message’ feature.

This feature allows users to edit a sent message within 15 minutes of sending it. To do so, users press and hold a message, then select the edit option to modify it. It should be noted that messages that have been edited will display an “edited” tag next to the timestamp, indicating that they have been altered. However, WhatsApp does not keep a record of the corrections, meaning other users cannot view the previous versions of edited messages.

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