WhatsApp has started rolling out an update to beta testers with a new feature designed to protect users from unwanted messages from anonymous accounts. The fashion blogger introduced a new feature that automatically protects users from unknown senders and filters messages under certain conditions. This feature is available to some testers and must be enabled manually. Finally, it joins other “leading edge” security features that aim to protect users’ privacy while using the messaging app.
After updating to WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.24.20.16, users have access to a new setting that blocks messages from certain anonymous accounts (via WABetaInfo). Beta testers running the latest version for Android smartphones can click on the three-dot menu > Settings > Privacy > Advanced > Block messages from unknown accounts. Gadgets 360 can confirm that the latest firmware is available in the latest beta version.
WhatsApp’s description of the new feature says it was designed to protect user accounts and improve device performance. When enabled, it will “block messages sent by unknown accounts if their volume exceeds a certain volume”. The influx of spam messages can negatively affect the performance of the user’s device, and the new feature appears to be designed to protect users from automated spam messages.
This feature is limited to beta testers, meaning users on the stable update channel will have to wait for a wider release. When enabled, users will still see messages from anonymous accounts in an unspecified location – WhatsApp may not display this to prevent spam from the company’s site.
The feature to block messages from anonymous accounts combines two other features that provide advanced privacy protection in WhatsApp – protecting the user’s IP address from in conversations and disable link previews to prevent third parties from obtaining the user’s IP address. All three functions are optional and must be activated manually by the user on the smartphone.
