WhatsApp Passkeys Now Protect Over 1 Billion Users Against Account Takeover Attacks

Gbhackers •Divya • August 26, 2026

WhatsApp has announced that over one billion people now use passkeys to secure their accounts, enhancing phishing-resistant authentication across one of the world’s largest messaging platforms. This update, revealed on August 25, introduces support for multiple passkeys, stronger two-step verification credentials, and additional context for calls from unknown numbers. These changes target common account takeover […]

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WhatsApp Enhances Security with New Features for 1 Billion Users WhatsApp has rolled out significant security updates, including stronger two-step verification and support for multiple passkeys, which now have over 1 billion users. The two-step verification system has transitioned from a six-digit PIN to a longer, alphanumeric password, enhancing protection against unauthorized access. Users can now create separate passkeys for different platforms, improving security for those using both Android and iOS devices. Additionally, call screens will display more information about unknown callers to help users identify potential scams. These updates are part of WhatsApp's ongoing efforts to combat phishing and hacking attempts, which have become increasingly sophisticated. The company has previously introduced features like 'Strict Account Settings' and 'Scam Alerts' to further protect users. WhatsApp's user base exceeds 3 billion globally, highlighting the scale of these security enhancements. 7 sources 30

Extracted Entities

Attack Types (1)

Account Takeover