WhatsApp Adds Passkey Security for Cloud Backups WhatsApp is introducing a new security feature for its millions of users by enabling passkeys for chat backups stored in the cloud. This move is designed to add a powerful layer of protection for years of personal data. The update applies to backups that users save to services like Google Drive or iCloud. These backups contain a user’s entire chat history, including photos, videos, and voice notes. While these cloud backups were already protected by end-to-end encryption, the passkey adds a mandatory authentication step to access the backup itself. The primary benefit of using a passkey is convenience coupled with robust security. Users will no longer need to remember a complex, manually entered 64-digit encryption key. Instead, they can unlock their backup using familiar and quick biometric authentication methods such as a fingerprint scan or facial recognition. For certain devices, the screen lock PIN, pattern, or password will also work as a passkey. This development is part of a broader industry shift towards passkey technology, which aims to replace traditional passwords with more secure and user-friendly authentication. For WhatsApp, this follows the rollout of passkey support for simply logging into the app, which began last year. The feature is starting its global rollout now. Due to the immense size of WhatsApp’s user base, it may take a few weeks to become available to everyone. Once the update arrives on a user’s device, they can activate the passkey for their backup by navigating to the Settings section within the WhatsApp application. This new security measure ensures that even if a cloud storage account is compromised, the WhatsApp backup remains inaccessible without the user’s unique physical authentication.
