WhatsApp is introducing “Strict Account Settings,” a lockdown-style option that blocks attachments and media from people not in a user’s contacts to protect journalists and other public-facing individuals from sophisticated spyware. The feature follows past attacks—most notably the 2019 Pegasus campaign by NSO Group that targeted about 1,400 users—and will roll out gradually in the coming weeks. #NSOGroup #Pegasus
Keypoints
- WhatsApp is launching “Strict Account Settings” to block attachments and media from non-contacts.
- The feature is aimed at journalists and public-facing individuals who may be targets of sophisticated cyber attacks.
- WhatsApp calls the setting a “lockdown-style feature,” similar to Apple’s lockdown mode introduced in July 2022.
- WhatsApp highlighted the 2019 Pegasus zero-click spyware campaign by NSO Group that affected about 1,400 users.
- The new setting will roll out gradually in the coming weeks while legal action against NSO Group continues.
Read More: https://therecord.media/whatsapp-spyware-anti-lockdown