WhatsApp has announced the rollout of a new security feature called Strict Account Settings, a lockdown-style protection designed to defend users against highly sophisticated cyber attacks.
The feature is aimed particularly at individuals who may face elevated digital risks, such as journalists, public figures, and others who are more likely to be targeted by advanced surveillance or hacking attempts.
The new setting builds on WhatsApp’s long-standing commitment to privacy, which includes default end-to-end encryption for personal messages and calls.
According to the company, the goal is to ensure that conversations on WhatsApp remain as private and secure as real-life, in-person discussions—while continuously adding extra layers of protection for those who need them most.
Once enabled, Strict Account Settings automatically shifts an account to WhatsApp’s most restrictive security options.
These include blocking attachments and media from unknown senders, silencing calls from people not in the user’s contacts, and tightening other app behaviors that could otherwise be exploited during cyber attacks. While these restrictions may limit some aspects of how the app functions, WhatsApp says they significantly reduce exposure to advanced threats.
The feature will be rolling out globally over the coming weeks. Users will be able to activate it by navigating to Settings, then Privacy, and finally Advanced, where Strict Account Settings can be switched on with just a few taps.
WhatsApp has also shared a visual guide to help users locate and enable the new option.
Strict Account Settings forms part of WhatsApp’s broader efforts to protect users from increasingly complex cyber threats. The company says it will continue investing in security innovations to safeguard private communication, especially for those facing the highest levels of digital risk.
