WhatsApp requires authentication on phone for displaying messages on desktop

WhatsApp is going to ask users for biometric authentication when starting a new session of WhatsApp Web or WhatsApp Desktop. Until now, scanning a QR code with the phone was enough to link phone and desktop.

The feature will be mandatory on all phones with biometric authentication. The move should improve the security of WhatsApp Web and Desktop, says the company. The feature requires iOS 14 and higher on iPhones, according to the faq. On Android, the faq does not mention a requirement for a particular version.

Authentication can be done with a fingerprint scanner or with facial recognition and takes place when users want to link a desktop or tablet with the phone via Web and Desktop. WhatsApp emphasizes that authentication is done on the phone and data from the fingerprint or face scan does not go to WhatsApp servers. That’s also obvious: iOS and Android have APIs for implementing security via biometric authentication.