WhatsApp Beta Introduces Feature to Block Messages From Unknown Accounts

WhatsApp
has
begun
rolling
out
an
update
to
beta
testers
along
with
a
new
feature
designed
to
keep
users
safe
from
unwanted
messages
sent
from
unknown
accounts.
A
feature
tracker
spotted
a
new
feature
that
automatically
protects
users
from
unidentified
senders,
by
filtering
out
messages
under
specific
circumstances.
The
feature
is
already
available
to
some
testers
and
must
be
manually
enabled. It
will
eventually
join
two
other
‘advanced’
safety
features
aimed
at
protecting
user
privacy
while
using
the
messaging
app.

After
updating
to
WhatsApp
beta
for
Android
2.24.20.16,
users
will
have
access
to
a
new
setting
that
blocks
messages
from
some
unidentified
accounts
(via
WABetaInfo).
Beta
testers
who
are
running
the
latest
version
for
Android
smartphones
can
tap
on
the
three-dot
menu
>


Settings
>


Privacy
>


Advanced
>


Block
unknown
account
messages.
Gadgets
360
was
able
to
confirm
that
the
new
toggle
was
available
on
the
latest
beta
version.

WhatsApp
users
will
soon
gain
access
to
another
privacy
feature

Photo
Credit:
WABetaInfo

WhatsApp’s
description
for
the
new
feature
states
that
it
is
designed
to
protect
a
user’s
account
and
improve
device
performance.
Once
enabled,
the
messaging
platform
will
“block
messages
sent
by
unknown
accounts
if
they
exceed
a
certain
volume”.
An
influx
of
spam
messages
might
negatively
affect
the
performance
of
a
user’s
device,
and
the
new
feature
appears
to
be
designed
to
protect
users
from
automated
spam
messages.

This
feature
is
currently
limited
to
beta
testers,
which
means
that
users
on
the
stable
update
channel
will
have
to
wait
for
a
wider
rollout.
When
it’s
enabled,
users
will
still
see
messages
from
unknown
accounts
within
an
unspecified
limit
—
WhatsApp
is
unlikely
to
disclose
this
in
order
to
deter
spammers
from
bypassing
the
company’s
feature.

The
feature
to
block
messages
from
unknown
accounts
will
join
two
other
features
that
offer
advanced
privacy
on
WhatsApp
—
protecting
a
user’s
IP
address
in
calls,
and
disabling
link
previews
to
prevent
third
parties
from
inferring
a
user’s
IP
address.
All
three
features
are
options
and
must
be
manually
enabled
by
a
user
on
their
smartphone.