WhatsApp is rolling out a new update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.23.19.15.
What’s new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out an automatic security code verification feature for end-to-end encryption, and it is available to a limited number of beta testers!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Automatic security code verification |
| Status? | Rolling out |
| Compatibility? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.15 is marked as a compatible update, but some users may be able to get the same feature by installing one of the following builds: 2.23.19.13 and 2.23.19.14. |
| I’ve installed this update but I don’t have this feature. Why? | This feature is available to some beta testers, and it’s rolling out to more people over the coming weeks. |
| Thanks: | Alishzad05, for testing and reporting! |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.14: what’s new? WhatsApp is rolling out a video avatar calling feature! |
| WABetaInfo Channel on WhatsApp: | Invite link |
AUTOMATIC SECURITY CODE VERIFICATION
In April, WhatsApp revealed several new features aimed to improve the security of the application: account protect, device verification, and automatic security codes. In the same article, WhatsApp also announced their plans to roll out these supplementary security features in the coming months. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.19.15 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to automatically verify security codes for end-to-end encryption!
As you can see in this screenshot, WhatsApp introduced a revamped encryption verification screen, and it is available to a limited number of beta testers. Thanks to these improvements, the app will try to automatically verify if messages are end-to-end encrypted without requiring any user intervention. This process is called “Key Transparency” and it definitely enhances the overall security and privacy of our conversations by checking if we’re using a secure connection. It’s important to note that WhatsApp still provides users with the manual verification feature in case the automatic verification fails or it is not available.
In our opinion, the introduction of the automatic security code feature along with its key transparency process makes end-to-end encryption verification more accessible and faster: it simplifies the verification process, making it easier for a broader range of users to ensure the security of their messages. This feature is particularly beneficial in scenarios where traditional QR code scanning or manual verification is complicated, such as when users need to verify encryption remotely with ease. By automating security code verification, WhatsApp aims to offer added security and convenience for their users without any additional effort on their part when verifying end-to-end encryption. If you want to learn more about the technical details regarding this feature, we recommend you read the official engineering article.
The automatic security code verification feature for end-to-end encryption is available to a limited number of beta testers who install the latest WhatsApp beta for Android update from the Google Play Store, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming weeks.
Stay up-to-date on WhatsApp news by following WABetaInfo on Twitter where you can also discover other new features for WhatsApp beta for Android, iOS, Web/Desktop, and Windows.
Do you like this news? Please, let us know on Twitter: we love hearing your feedback! If you’re curious to know where you can find WABetaInfo, there is a dedicated page where you can discover our services.
In addition, we have set up a Discord Server where you can chat with other people, get help and advice, and stay up to date with the latest announcements from WABetaInfo.