WhatsApp this week announced that it is adding passkey-encrypted chat backups, allowing users to protect their stored messages using Touch ID or Face ID instead of a 64-digit key.


The feature extends the app's 2021 end-to-end encrypted backup system, which previously required users to create and save a lengthy key to restore chats. With passkeys, authentication uses each device's built-in authentication hardware like ‌Touch ID‌ or ‌Face ID‌, meaning the private cryptographic key never leaves the phone. This makes backups both more secure and much easier to restore.

The rollout is set to be global and gradual over the coming weeks. Users can enable it via Settings → Chats → Chat backup → End-to-end encrypted backup once available. iCloud and Google Drive remain the storage destinations for iOS and Android, respectively. The move continues Meta's broader adoption of passkeys, which WhatsApp first supported for account logins in 2023.
This article, "WhatsApp to Add Support for Passkey-Encrypted Backups" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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WhatsApp today provided its TestFlight users with a new Apple Watch app for testing purposes, which means a version of WhatsApp for the wrist could be coming soon.


The app supports reading WhatsApp messages, sending replies, sending message reactions, sharing voice messages, and more, without the need to open the app on another device.

A connected iPhone with the WhatsApp app installed is required to use the Apple Watch app, and it is only available to beta testers at this time.

WhatsApp has not previously offered an Apple Watch app. There's no word on when a public launch might happen.
This article, "WhatsApp Testing Apple Watch App" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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