Popular messaging service WhatsApp is working on a fingerprint authentication feature that will protect users chats from being accessed from unauthorised users.
According to WABetaInfo, the feature which is still under development, and by default its disabled in the Android 2.19.3 beta version.
Just recently, the Facebook owned instant messaging service was said to bring a similar feature to iPhone, supporting Face ID and Touch ID biometric methods.
"After working to implement Face ID and Touch ID features on iOS (that aren't available yet for development reasons). WhatsApp has finally started to work on the authentication feature on Android, using your Fingerprint!" WABetaInfo said.
Though the iPhone authentication feature supports two biometric methods, Android users will only get support for finger authentication and no Facial recognition. Reason for this is due to the lack of a wide presence of facial recognition on the Android platform.
WABetaInfo explained that once the user enables the Fingerprint feature, the WhatsApp messaging app will require the owners fingerprint to unlock the app each time someone tries to access the app.
"The app will be completely protected, so the user will need to authenticate his identity in order to open WhatsApp (from the app icon, from the notification or from external pickers). It will [protect the entire app, so it's not used to lock specific conversations," the post read.
WhatsApp will add a new section in their app so that the user will be able to enable the Fingerprint feature, which should be under Settings > Account > Privacy.
As mentioned before, this feature isn't available even for beta users as at this time. WABetaInfo, however, notes that the feature will be available in the future for iOS and Android users. Though, for now, the feature needs to get many other improvements before it goes out to the public.
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