WhatsApp looks all set to give its users an additional layer of security through email verification while signing into their accounts. The instant messaging platform owned by Meta currently allows logins using phone numbers only. With email verification, users will have one more option to access their WhatsApp account securely, reports feature tracker website WABetaInfo.
WhatsApp for Android beta update version 2.23.24.10 is reportedly shipping with a new feature that adds “email address” as a second option to verify users’ account. It is available to beta testers, obviously, but is expected to get a wider release in the coming days. WABetaInfo mentions that some users on versions 2.23.24.9 and 2.23.24.8 could also have access to the new secure login method.
The WhatsApp feature tracker website makes a few observations regarding the update in its report. Firstly, email verification is not a replacement to phone number verification, which would continue to remain the default option for the unforeseeable future. Email verification is an “optional” feature, according to the report, and users would have the choice to not use it although it is advisable or recommended that they turn it on for more peace of mind.
If you happen to be on the latest beta of WhatsApp on Android at the time of writing, you can check out the availability of said feature by going to WhatsApp settings > Account > Email Address. If available, WhatsApp will ask you to put in an email and verify its authenticity, through a configuration process. Once everything is done, you can sign-into your WhatsApp account using email as a means of verification just like you would with a phone number. Only in this case, the code or OTP will appear on your registered email ID and not as an SMS on the phone.
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