Passkeys to unlock your encrypted backups by WhatsApp

 WhatsApp is working on a new feature to secure backup Data using Passkeys

One of the most difficult tasks on WhatsApp is securing your backup data, especially before moving it to a different phone. Well, it seems the Meta-owned app is finally going to help with this issue in the near future. According to a reports available, WhatsApp is working on a passkey feature for end-to-end encrypted backups. It is expected to be available in a future update. WhatsApp is rolling out a new update with version 2.24.18.13 for Android through the Google Play Beta Program. This WhatsApp beta update brings a fresh and useful feature called passkeys for encrypted backups. A passkey is a digital credential which simplifies and secures account logins by replacing traditional passwords with your fingerprint, face scan or phone screen lock.

The new passkey feature makes accessing your encrypted backups easier and more secure. It will use biometric methods, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, to unlock your backups. This means you won’t need to remember or type in complex passwords anymore. "It appears that WhatsApp also intends to use passkeys to add a new layer of authentication for end-to-end encrypted backups, ensuring that only authorised users can access and restore their chat history with enhanced convenience. Thanks to the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.18.13 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a passkey feature for end-to-end encrypted backups," WABetaInfo reported.

Currently, WhatsApp lets you protect your backups with either a custom password or a long 64-digit encryption key. This method provides a high level of security, ensuring that only the user can decrypt and access their backup files. But they can be hard to remember. That’s why WhatsApp is introducing the new passkey feature, which uses easy-to-use biometric authentication. For those who are unaware, WhatsApp already supports end-to-end encrypted backups, enabling users to secure their data with either a custom password or a 64-digit encryption key. Instead of dealing with and remembering lengthy passwords, you’ll be able to quickly and securely access your backups using your biometric data. This makes managing your backups simpler and reduces the chances of being locked out due to forgotten passwords.

"We believe that WhatsApp is enhancing the user experience by providing another secure method to manage encrypted backups through the passkey integration. This approach removes the need to remember complex passwords, reducing the risk of being locked out of encrypted backups due to forgotten credentials," WABetaInfo said. Notably, the passkey itself will be securely stored in a password manager with an extra layer of convenience and security. WhatsApp passkeys feature for backups is currently in development and will be available in a future update. The report suggested that this shift towards passkey support represents a significant step forward in making encrypted backups more accessible and less reliant on memory, as users will be able to restore their end-to-end encrypted backups by verifying their identity quickly and easily with biometrics.