WhatsApp Restricted Chat locks a conversation to your primary phone

WhatsApp is quietly shifting the power dynamics of digital privacy by tethering your most sensitive conversations to a single device, a move that security experts say could either revolutionize protection against account hijacking or create a dangerous single point of failure for users who lose their phones. The feature, which locks encrypted chats exclusively to your primary device, represents a fundamental departure from the company's multi-device philosophy and raises urgent questions about whether convenience and security can truly coexist in an era of SIM-swapping attacks and sophisticated phone theft. For millions of users accustomed to accessing their accounts across multiple devices, the restriction may feel like trading freedom for safety—a gamble that could reshape how people think about their digital lives.

Help Net Security·Sep 14