WhatsApp may soon launch fingerprint authentication feature for Android users

Facebook-owned messenger WhatsApp may soon introduce fingerprint authentication feature for Android users.

This feature, widely seen in many banking apps and smartphones, will allow the user to ensure more security by protecting it against unauthorised access.

Currently there is no guidance as to when the feature will be released as it is still under development, however, some beta testers were able to spot it under account settings.

According to a report by WABetaInfo, these features will be a part of WhatsApp’s 2.19.3 update for Android.

This comes after multiple reports earlier stating that the developers are working on bringing Face ID and Touch ID to WhatsApp for iOS. Face ID and Touch ID integration are yet to be made available for development reasons.

The report quoted above said the feature still needs improvement.

WhatsApp currently deploys end-to-end encryption security to users, to protect the privacy of their messages.

However, with the upcoming fingerprint authentication feature, users can easily lock the app and prevent messages, photos, videos, voice messages, documents, status updates from falling into the wrong hands.

The new authorisation method will make other third party locking apps redundant, at least for WhatsApp.

There is, however, one downside. The fingerprint security will not work for specific conversations but for the entire application.

Nevertheless, one can’t assume such a possibility as it is still under development stages.