WhatsApp rolls out security feature to block messages from unidentified contacts

WhatsApp will introduce THIS security feature to public in few weeks
An undated image of WhatsApp logo. — Pixabay
An undated image of WhatsApp logo. — Pixabay

WhatsApp was reportedly gearing up for a security feature to block messages from unidentified accounts, which would allow users to automatically block all the incoming messages from unknown accounts after surpassing a specific volume that helps to protect against harmful communications. 

Meta-owned WhatsApp is currently testing this feature with the public, as a few beta testers are capable of experimenting with an option to manage message filtering from unidentified accounts. 

Here’s how to enable it

As mentioned earlier, this option is available for some beta testers, follow these steps to enable it:

  1. Firstly, launch the Advance section and navigate to the privacy settings
  2. Here, a new block of unknown account messages will appear.
  3. Enable it, then the feature will automatically start blocking messages from unknown accounts after a certain limit. 

Read more: WhatsApp might allow Android users to customise chat themes

Additionally, this feature never blocks all the unknown messages except a few suspicious ones, but it particularly targets a few accounts that are constantly sending large numbers of messages in a reduced period, ensuring that users will be able to get essential messages from unidentified contacts while securing their account by preventing spams. 

It is important to note that if WhatsApp ever detects that a user is constantly receiving numerous messages from unknown contacts, then the app will recommend the user to enable this feature to safeguard against phishing attempts. 

WhatsApp has already rolled out this security feature for beta testers, and it will be introduced to the public in a few weeks.