- New verification screen that appears before starting chats with people who are not in your address book.
- Improvements to device linking security to prevent account hijacking via QR codes.
- Contextual information about the origin of the number and shared groups to identify potential fraud.
- Expert recommendations for activating two-step verification and periodically reviewing active sessions.
Security in our communications has become an absolute priority, especially in Spain, where fraud attempts through messaging apps continue to rise. It's not uncommon to receive a message on any given Tuesday from a completely unknown number, impersonating a relative in distress or promising a job with an incredible salary that, of course, doesn't exist. This situation has forced Meta to take action to prevent users from falling into these increasingly sophisticated social engineering traps .
To make things harder for thieves, WhatsApp is implementing a series of tools designed to give us a moment's pause before we make a mistake. The idea is simple but effective: to create a moment of reflection that forces us to look twice at who is messaging us and what their true intentions might be. It's not just about blocking, but about having useful information at hand to decide whether a chat deserves our attention or if it's better to simply delete it without replying.
A barrier of trust before talking to strangers
One of the biggest new features coming to users' phones is a warning screen that pops up when you try to contact a number you don't have saved. Until recently, you could just start typing, but now the app analyzes whether the contact is reliable and shows you key details like the country of origin of the phone number. This is crucial because if someone claims to be your cousin from Cuenca but the country code is from a distant landline, you already have the first clue that something's amiss.
In addition to identifying the person's origin, this new layer of security will tell us if we share any groups with them, helping to determine if they might be a real person in our social circle. This feature aims to curb the rise of phishing, where scammers create fake profiles with stolen photos to quickly gain our trust. By requiring us to confirm that we actually want to talk to this stranger, it breaks the sense of urgency that criminals often use to manipulate us.
It's important to note that the system doesn't notify the other person if you decide to end the chat or if you remain staring at the security screen. This way, our privacy is fully protected while we investigate whether the contact is legitimate or simply a bot trying to trick us into clicking a malicious link. In places like Zamora or Madrid, where the app is widely used for everyday tasks, this type of filter prevents many users, especially older ones, from falling victim to financial scams.
The app is also working on automating the detection of these suspicious behaviors directly on the device. Although messages remain encrypted, the software can identify if a message contains typical scam patterns , such as strange spelling errors or unusual requests for codes and money. This complements the existing option to mute calls from unknown numbers, creating a much calmer environment free from fraudulent interruptions aimed at stealing personal information.
Protection against account hijacking and QR codes
Another area of concern is scams that involve technical access to our accounts. A very common method involves tricking users into scanning a QR code on someone else's computer, allowing the attacker to take control of their conversations. To prevent this, WhatsApp has released an improvement that sends an immediate warning when a suspicious linking attempt is detected, including the approximate location of the device trying to connect to our profile.
This alert is crucial because it gives us time to cancel the operation before the intruder can read our chats or send messages on our behalf. By detecting anomalies in the location or devices that have never been used before, the platform acts as a safety brake against tampering. If you weren't the one trying to open WhatsApp Web, this notification will save you from a nasty surprise by proactively blocking third-party access.
How to keep your account safe from scammers
While technology can help, common sense remains the best defense. Cybersecurity experts recommend that, upon receiving any suspicious message from a family member asking for money for a supposed emergency, the first step should be to make a regular phone call to verify their identity. Never share personal information you shouldn't share, including your account PIN, as these are the master keys criminals use to lock you out of your own app.
Here are some warning signs that should make you suspicious immediately:
- messages with spelling or grammar mistakes which look like machine translations.
- Urgent requests to click on links or download unknown files.
- Promises of prizes, miraculous investments, or jobs without prior interview.
- People claiming to be from technical support ask you to perform actions on your settings.
Constant improvements for a more reliable environment
The fight against cyber fraud in Spain, which already accounts for a large portion of known crimes, requires us to always be vigilant and keep our apps updated. Regularly checking the linked devices section in the app's settings is an excellent practice to ensure there are no open sessions we don't recognize. Combining these new trust alerts with two-step verification and knowing how to report scams on WhatsApp creates a very strong barrier that protects both our private conversations and our banking information.
Staying calm when faced with messages demanding an immediate response and using the platform's blocking and reporting tools are crucial steps to avoid becoming just another statistic. Ultimately, understanding how these new alerts work allows us to browse the internet with much greater peace of mind , knowing we have control over who can contact us and who remains outside our circle of trust.
