Meta-owned WhatsApp is said to be developing a new chat lock feature, aiming to enhance the security of private conversations by enabling users to lock their chats within the service's web client. According to a report by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is working on integrating a locked chat feature into its web client. The secured chats are likely to be housed in a dedicated tab, aiming to offer an additional level of privacy and security for private conversations.
The feature is undergoing development and it is slated to be included in an upcoming update to the web client, as mentioned in the report.
As outlined in the WABetaInfo report, the chat lock feature on WhatsApp for web might resemble the interface found in the Android and iOS versions of the app. It is anticipated to offer users various privacy and security advantages.
The upcoming feature will be especially beneficial when safeguarding personal information, confidential details, or sensitive topics within a chat that requires protection from unauthorised access, or prying eyes. Employing the new chat lock feature can provide users with an additional layer of security, particularly when using the web version of the service in close proximity to others, ensuring the privacy of their conversations.
Additionally, the report suggests that WhatsApp may synchronise these locked chats across various platforms.
Meanwhile, the world's most popular messaging platform, has stopped providing free Google Drive storage for Android users to store their chat history, images and videos. This change means that WhatsApp data on Google Drive will soon contribute to the 15GB storage limit, prompting users to consider a paid Google One subscription as an alternative.
Whether you're on Google's free or paid cloud storage plan, Meta-owned WhatsApp was storing chat backups on your Google Drive. This uses the storage linked to the Gmail account associated with your WhatsApp, adding to the space consumed by backups from Google Photos, Gmail and other sources on your Google Drive.
Those who wish to avoid using up their entire Google Drive storage with chat backups and not pay for premium Google One plan, they have the option to refrain from backing up WhatsApp chats to the cloud service. Instead, they can consider using the built-in WhatsApp Chat Transfer tool when shifting to a new Android phone.