TECH

WhatsApp beta for Android adds fingerprint authentication

WhatsApp always remains a step ahead in providing new features to its users. The developers have extended numerous features on WhatsApp to facilitate users’ security, accessibility, and enhance ease-of-use on the app. In a similar move, Whatsapp has recently added fingerprint authentication feature on the WhatsApp Beta version for Android.
To get the latest feature, the user needs to update their WhatsApp Beta to version 2.19.221. The user can head over to the Settings > Account > Privacy > Fingerprint lock to enable the new authentication feature. It carries the option to select the frequency of the authentication prompt to appear after 30 minutes, 1 minute or immediately. If you choose “immediately” option, then the app will ask for the authentication after inactiveness of WhatsApp for a short period.
The ability to select frequency depends on a server-side switch, and it won’t come to all the phones with just an app update. The new unlock feature will prompt only while opening the app. Otherwise, users can generally pick up the voice and video calls. It even won’t snap-in while replying to a message from the notification bar itself.
The new authentication also affects the WhatsApp Widget. It won’t show any information if you’ve activated the fingerprint unlock. However, the WhatsApp official Android biometric authentication APIs ensures the safety of our fingerprint data and it isn’t sent to Facebook.
Moreover, WhatsApp is also working on the Dark Mode to save your eyes from the strain caused by the light colors. We are unsure about when the new Fingerprint Unlock feature will roll out on the stable version.

Simran Singh