Android users of WhatsApp are in for a treat this Halloween after the company announced on its blog that you'll now be able to lock the app using the fingerprint sensor. This new feature provides you with one more layer of security when using the messenger by requiring you to scan your fingerprint before opening the app, even if your phone has already been unlocked.


The feature first debuted on iOS devices last February and has now finally made its way to Android. To set up the fingerprint lock feature on your device, first, open the Settings menu and locate Account, then under Privacy, select Fingerprint Lock.

From here, you will be able to prevent WhatsApp from opening until you scan your fingerprint. However, it notes that you'll still be able to answer calls when the app is locked. It also allows you to choose whether WhatsApp will lock immediately, after one minute, or after 30 minutes. Finally, there is an option to show or hide content in your notifications.



The update doesn’t appear to be available in all regions just yet, but once it arrives, WhatsApp says you’ll be able to toggle on the extra security from within the app’s Privacy settings menu. There are options to let the app remain unlocked for one or 30 minutes after you unlock it, and there’s also a toggle to prevent the contents of your messages from appearing in notifications.

We’ve known that the feature was coming to Android since WABetaInfo reported that it had appeared in a beta version of the app back in August. Unfortunately, while on iOS, the feature supports both Touch ID and Face ID, Android appears to be limited to just fingerprint unlock since there’s no mention of face unlock in WhatsApp’s announcement. (Sorry, Pixel 4 owners.)

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messengers around the world, and one of the features it touts is privacy using end-to-end encryption. By adding Fingerprint lock, it now has one more layer of security to ensure your messages stay between you and the recipient, keeping prying eyes out of your business.

Source http://funnycor.com/detail?newsId=1943734