Tertius News is an AI-native newsroom: an AI model reads the linked source articles below and extracts what each outlet reported, so you can compare their coverage side by side. How this works →

New anti-fraud tools, passkeys & caller alerts

WhatsApp has introduced new security features including support for multiple passkeys per account, an upgraded two-step verification system, and caller context for unknown numbers on Android. The updates aim to curb online fraud and account takeovers.

By Tertius News AI Desk 2 outlets · 2 articles Version 1 Coverage Aug 25, 2026 Published 1h ago

New security features arrive on WhatsApp

WhatsApp has rolled out a set of security updates designed to curb online fraud and make accounts harder to steal, according to Deccan Herald and Techjaja. The features include expanded passkey support, a stronger two-step verification system, and new caller context alerts for unknown numbers.

The updates come as WhatsApp serves more than three billion people, as reported by Techjaja, and Deccan Herald puts the active user base at 3.3 billion. The rollout was scheduled for August 25, according to Deccan Herald.

Passkeys: one billion users and multi-device support

Passkeys have reached a notable milestone: more than one billion people have set one up on WhatsApp, as reported by both Deccan Herald and Techjaja. A passkey lets users log into WhatsApp using the same fingerprint, Face ID, or screen lock used to unlock their phone, offering a faster and more secure alternative to traditional passwords.

Techjaja reports that users can now add more than one passkey to the same account, a change that helps people who switch between devices, such as an Android phone and an iPhone. Each device can hold its own passkey. To set up or add a passkey, users open WhatsApp Settings, tap Account, then Passkeys, according to Techjaja.

Beyond login, WhatsApp has extended passkey technology to protect end-to-end encrypted chat backups, Techjaja reports. End-to-end encryption has been the default on WhatsApp for years, but the company continues to layer on protections against account hijacking.

Two-step verification upgraded to a full password

WhatsApp has upgraded its two-step verification from a six-digit PIN to a full alphanumeric password that can include letters, numbers, and special characters, as reported by both sources. This makes it harder for hackers to gain unauthorised access, according to Deccan Herald.

The feature remains optional, according to Techjaja. The company has not said whether it will eventually require two-step verification.

Caller context for unknown numbers on Android

WhatsApp now shows Android users additional context for calls from unknown numbers, including the country and any shared groups, according to both Deccan Herald and Techjaja. This is intended to help users avoid scams by providing more information before they pick up.

Techjaja notes that iOS users do not have this caller context feature yet.

Broader context and user advice

Techjaja reports that earlier this year WhatsApp introduced stricter privacy modes for high-risk users and local machine-learning alerts that flag potential scam chats. These additions are part of a broader effort to address evolving threats like account takeovers, SIM-swap attacks, and social-engineering scams.

The company also advises users not to share verification codes and to be wary of unexpected calls claiming to be from banks or delivery services, according to Techjaja.

How each outlet told it

Deccan Herald as of Aug 25, 2026, 5:19 PM UTC

Framing: Headline emphasizes the anti-fraud aspect, listing 'anti-fraud tools, passkeys & caller alerts', and leaves out the specific nature of the updates. — Neutral and informational, e.g., 'Concise summary of key highlights'

Facts Included:

WhatsApp gets new security features to curb online fraud
Unknown caller insights: additional context about unknown callers, including country and shared groups
Two-step verification upgraded to a full alphanumeric password
Passkeys offer faster and more secure alternative to traditional passwords
Biometric authentication: Face ID, Touch ID, or device passcodes for passkeys
3.3 billion active user base
1 billion users using passkeys
Feature rollout timing: August 25

Read the source article →

Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC

Framing: Headline emphasizes the security strengthening aspect of the updates, framing them as 'cements security with stronger features' and 'new update' — Appreciative and encouraging, e.g., 'steady, practical defenses', 'gentle (or not so gentle) nudge'

Facts Included:

End-to-end encryption has been the default for years on WhatsApp
Passkeys hit one billion users
Users can now add more than one passkey to the same account
Passkeys use fingerprint, Face ID, or screen lock
Setup process: Settings > Account > Passkeys
Passkeys protect end-to-end encrypted chat backups
Two-step verification upgraded from a six-digit PIN to a full password with letters, numbers, and special characters
Two-step verification remains optional
Android users get caller context: country and shared groups for unknown numbers
iOS users don't have the caller context feature yet
WhatsApp serves more than three billion people
Earlier this year introduced stricter privacy modes for high-risk users and local machine-learning alerts for scam chats
Advice not to share verification codes and be wary of unexpected calls

Read the source article →

What was claimed, and who backed it

Each row is one claim, attributed to the outlet whose wording states it most clearly. Confidence rates how directly the source text states the claim — explicit and unhedged rates high; hedged, pieced-together, or internally inconsistent statements rate lower. It does not measure whether the claim is true. Status counts the distinct outlets we found asserting it — so a single-source claim can still show high confidence, and a multi-source claim can show medium. Every one of those outlets is named beside the status, so you can check the count against the list. For claims extracted before we began storing that list, the row says so: it names the outlet the claim is quoted from and states that we have not recorded which outlets backed it. Outlets wrote at different times, so a figure that evolves — a casualty count, for example — can legitimately differ between rows; check the "as of" time next to each claim's source.

Claim	Confidence	Status
ClaimEnd-to-end encryption has been the default for years on WhatsApp.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC
ClaimMore than one billion people have set up a passkey on WhatsApp.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC, Deccan Herald as of Aug 25, 2026, 5:19 PM UTC
ClaimUsers can add more than one passkey to the same WhatsApp account.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC
ClaimA passkey lets users log into WhatsApp using the same fingerprint, Face ID, or screen lock used to open their phone.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC, Deccan Herald as of Aug 25, 2026, 5:19 PM UTC
ClaimTo set up or add a passkey, users open WhatsApp Settings, tap Account, then Passkeys.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC
ClaimWhatsApp has extended passkey technology to protect end-to-end encrypted chat backups.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC
ClaimWhatsApp upgraded two-step verification from a six-digit PIN to a full password that can include letters, numbers, and special characters.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC, Deccan Herald as of Aug 25, 2026, 5:19 PM UTC
ClaimTwo-step verification on WhatsApp remains optional.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC
ClaimWhatsApp now shows Android users extra context for calls from unknown numbers, including the country and shared groups.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC, Deccan Herald as of Aug 25, 2026, 5:19 PM UTC
ClaimiOS users do not have the caller context feature yet.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC
ClaimWhatsApp serves more than three billion people.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC
ClaimEarlier this year WhatsApp introduced stricter privacy modes for high-risk users and local machine-learning alerts that flag potential scam chats.	ConfidenceMedium	StatusSingle-source via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC
ClaimWhatsApp's new security features are intended to curb online fraud.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Deccan Herald as of Aug 25, 2026, 5:19 PM UTC, Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC
ClaimPasskeys offer a faster and more secure alternative to traditional passwords.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusMulti-source (2 outlets) via Deccan Herald as of Aug 25, 2026, 5:19 PM UTC, Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC
ClaimWhatsApp's active user base is 3.3 billion.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusContested via Deccan Herald as of Aug 25, 2026, 5:19 PM UTC
ClaimThe feature rollout timing is August 25.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via Deccan Herald as of Aug 25, 2026, 5:19 PM UTC
ClaimAdvice: Don't share verification codes and be wary of unexpected calls claiming to be from banks or delivery services.	ConfidenceHigh	StatusSingle-source via Techjaja as of Aug 25, 2026, 6:00 PM UTC

Transparency & Audit Trail

2 outlets · 2 articles consulted: Deccan Herald, Techjaja 17 claims extracted Version 1 Written 2026-08-25