The extremely popular WhatsApp instant messaging client is set to receive support for two-step verification (2SV), a process which is often also (incorrectly) referred to as two-factor authentication.
The feature is currently available in WhatsApp's Beta version for Android, for which users can sign up here. Once users have signed up for the Beta version, their phone will be automatically updated to the Beta version in the next app update cycle, or they can trigger a manual update.
To enable two-step verification, users need to go to the phone's Settings section, and then the Account section. Here they have to tap on the "Two-step verification" option, seen in the list below.
Turning on two-factor verification requires the user to enter and confirm a six-digit code on their phone.
WhatsApp will ask for this secret code whenever the user wants to add a new phone number to his account. Additionally, a user won't be able to activate the WhatsApp account on other phones without this six-digit code.
The email, which is optional, will be used whenever users want to reset their six-digit code.
The two-step verification procedure can be turned on or off at any time. Users can also update the six-digit code and the email address every time they want.
When WhatsApp officially announces support for two-step verification for both the iOS and Android versions, it will join the ranks of other services such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, and others. Facebook announced in February 2016 that WhatsApp has over one billion active users each month.
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