WhatsApp\u2019s new ‘Strict Account Settings’ Adds Lockdown-Style Protection Against Spyware |CyberScoop<\/title> <meta name=\"description\" content=\"WhatsApp is rolling out \u201cStrict Account Settings,\u201d a lockdown-style security mode that limits interactions from non-contacts to help protect high-risk users from sophisticated spyware attacks.\"> <link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/whatsapp-strict-account-settings-lockdown-style-spyware-protection\/\"> <meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\"> <meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\"> <meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"WhatsApp releases account feature that looks to combat spyware\"> <meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"WhatsApp is rolling out \u201cStrict Account Settings,\u201d a lockdown-style security mode that limits interactions from non-contacts to help protect high-risk users from sophisticated spyware attacks.\"> <meta property=\"og:url\" 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readability=\"25.551578947368\">\n<div class=\"single-article__header-content\" readability=\"34.318681318681\">\n<p> The new \u201cStrict Account Settings\u201d toggle extends WhatsApp\u2019s privacy push beyond end-to-end encryption. <\/p>\n<p>  <br \/>\n<audio id=\"audio-player\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-tts-cdn.api.scpnewsgrp.com\/cyberscoop\/87572\/english.openai.mp3\"><\/audio> <\/p>\n<div readability=\"11\">\n<div>\n<p>Listen to this article<\/p>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p>0:00<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>  <\/p>\n<p> <span id=\"tts-tooltip\">Learn more.<\/span> <span> This feature uses an automated voice, which may result in occasional errors in pronunciation, tone, or sentiment. <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>  <\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__cover-wrap\">\n<figure class=\"single-article__cover\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" 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https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/whatsapp-releases-account-feature-that-looks-to-combat-spyware-2.jpg?resize=600,401 600w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/whatsapp-releases-account-feature-that-looks-to-combat-spyware-2.jpg?resize=252,168 252w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/whatsapp-releases-account-feature-that-looks-to-combat-spyware-2.jpg?resize=505,337 505w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/whatsapp-releases-account-feature-that-looks-to-combat-spyware-2.jpg?resize=1011,675 1011w, https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/whatsapp-releases-account-feature-that-looks-to-combat-spyware-2.jpg?resize=1263,843 1263w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1011px) 100vw, 1011px\"><figcaption> The buttons of WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and other apps on the screen of an iPhone. (stockcam, Getty Images) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"single-article__content\">\n<div class=\"single-article__content-inner has-drop-cap\"> <html readability=\"22.016085790885\"><body readability=\"45.353128313892\"><\/p>\n<p>WhatsApp unveiled a lockdown-style feature on Tuesday similar to those offered by other tech providers aimed at blocking sophisticated cyberattacks, with spyware in mind.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cStrict Account Settings\u201d feature will roll out in the coming weeks and once enabled, will allow users to limit features in certain ways, such as blocking attachments and media from others not in a user\u2019s contact list.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe will always defend that right to privacy for everyone, starting with default end-to-end encryption,\u201d WhatsApp said in <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.whatsapp.com\/whatsapps-latest-privacy-protection-strict-account-settings\">a blog post<\/a>. \u201cBut we also know that a few of our users \u2014 like journalists or public-facing figures \u2014 may need extreme safeguards against rare and highly-sophisticated cyber attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>WhatsApp has been fighting a legal battle against NSO Group stemming from the 2019 installation of the company\u2019s Pegasus spyware on an estimated 1,400 WhatsApp users. Meta, WhatsApp\u2019s parent company, has scored some wins in that <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/nso-group-whatsapp-injunction-appeal\/\">court fight<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"ad ad--inline_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The WhatsApp feature \u201csounds like an excellent addition\u201d to features like Apple\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/apple-nso-group-spyware-iphone-lockdown-mode\/\">Lockdown Mode<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/apple-memory-integrity-enforcement-iphone-ios-anti-spyware\/\">Memory Integrity Enforcement<\/a>, as well as Google\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/google-android-16-security-features-update-scam-protection-advanced\/\">Advanced Protection<\/a>, said Natalia Krapiva, senior tech legal counsel at the digital civil rights group Access Now.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is encouraging to see more companies enabling advanced security features to protect high risk users from spyware,\u201d Krapiva said. \u201cWhile litigation is an essential tool in combating spyware, due to the high costs and <a href=\"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/spyware-court-cases-nso-group-meta-whatsapp-apple\/\">jurisdictional hurdles<\/a>, it may not be accessible to most victims.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIntroducing measures like this that are free and do not require advanced technical knowledge could help stop spyware harms and prevent them from happening in the future for millions of users, especially journalists, activists, and human rights defenders,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Users can enable the feature by going to Settings > Privacy > Advanced.<\/p>\n<p><\/body> <\/p>\n<footer class=\"single-article__footer\">\n<div class=\"author-card\" readability=\"7.7216117216117\">\n<div class=\"author-card__avatar\">\n<figure class=\"author-card__image-wrap\"> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"author-card__image\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ddi.mohflo.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/whatsapp-releases-account-feature-that-looks-to-combat-spyware-1.jpg?w=640&ssl=1\" alt=\"Tim Starks\"> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-card__details\" readability=\"10.901098901099\">\n<h4 class=\"author-card__name\">Written by Tim Starks<\/h4>\n<p> Tim Starks is senior reporter at CyberScoop. His previous stops include working at The Washington Post, POLITICO and Congressional Quarterly. An Evansville, Ind. native, he’s covered cybersecurity since 2003. Email Tim here: <a href=\"mailto:tim.starks@cyberscoop.com\">tim.starks@cyberscoop.com<\/a>. <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__tags-container\">\n<h4 class=\"single-article__tags-title\">In This Story<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<p> <\/html><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"single-article__ads js-single-article-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-5 ad--rightrail_1 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-4 ad--rightrail_2 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ad ad--sidebar js-single-article-sidebar-3 ad--rightrail_3 \">\n<div class=\"ad__inner\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Advertisement<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"popular-stories popular-stories--single-post\">\n<div 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{"id":8302,"date":"2026-01-27T11:18:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T17:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyberscoop.com\/?p=87572"},"modified":"2026-01-27T11:18:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T17:18:40","slug":"whatsapp-releases-account-feature-that-looks-to-combat-spyware","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ddi.mohflo.net\/index.php\/2026\/01\/27\/whatsapp-releases-account-feature-that-looks-to-combat-spyware\/","title":{"rendered":"WhatsApp releases account feature that looks to combat spyware"},"content":{"rendered":"