Paranoid WhatsApp users rejoice: Encrypted app gets one-click privacy toggle

Meta’s WhatsApp is introducing a new Strict Account Settings mode that consolidates several security and privacy controls—such as limiting visibility, restricting group adds, disabling link previews, blocking high-volume messages from unknown accounts, enabling two-step verification by default, and turning on security code change alerts—aimed at providing stronger protections for high-risk users while being available to all. Additionally, WhatsApp has replaced its older C++ media processing and security library with a Rust-based implementation to improve safety, reduce attack surface, and enhance maintainability.