Ammon News - Meta-owned popular instant messaging platform WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new security feature that will prevent some Android and iPhone users from logging into their accounts. According to a report, WhatsApp is blocking logins on devices running outdated operating systems. Users affected by this change will need to update their phone's software before they can access WhatsApp again.

The Meta-owned app is taking this to protect users from security risks linked to older versions of Android and iOS.

According to WABetaInfo, the new security measure is being introduced through a server-side update, which means users do not need to download a new version of WhatsApp.

The change is currently being rolled out to select Android and iOS users.

WhatsApp's New Security Rule Explained

Under the new security measure, WhatsApp will display a warning when users try to log in on a device running outdated software. The message will ask them to open their phone's settings and install the latest available operating system update.

Once the software is updated, users can return to WhatsApp and complete the login process. However, there is no option to skip this requirement, which means affected users will not be able to log in until they update their devices.

WhatsApp has not revealed which Android and iOS versions will trigger the warning. It is also unclear how the change will affect older smartphones that are no longer eligible for software updates, the report said.

Why Is WhatsApp Introducing This Change?

The main reason behind this move is user security. Older operating systems may contain security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit to install malware, steal personal information or gain unauthorised access to devices.

Although WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption to protect messages, it cannot guarantee the safety of information if a device has already been compromised.

The latest change seems to be a part of WhatsApp's broader efforts to improve account security. The platform has also been working on warnings for unofficial WhatsApp Web clients, a Scam Alert feature and restricted chats to offer users more protection.