Locking Down the Chat: WhatsApp Debuts “Strict Mode” to Combat Pegasus Spyware

WhatsApp announced “Strict Account Settings,” a high-security mode inspired by Apple’s Lockdown Mode for at-risk users (e.g., journalists, activists, dignitaries), which globally rolls out soon and intentionally limits functionality to harden defenses by blocking attachments from unknown contacts, disabling hyperlink previews, and silencing unknown callers—measures designed to reduce exposure to advanced threats such as zero-click exploits and Pegasus-style spyware, while standard end-to-end encryption remains sufficient for most users.