WhatsApp has recently rolled out biometric security support for its web and desktop app. However, this does not mean that you need a fingerprint reader or webcam to use the popular instant messaging service on your PC though.
Instead, what this actually means that WhatsApp will now ask you to scan your fingerprint or face on your phone when you want to open WhatsApp Web or WhatsApp Desktop on a PC. Naturally, this means Touch ID or Face ID if you are using an iPhone.
The biometric authentication takes place in the Link A Device section of WhatsApp, just before you scan the QR code on WhatsApp Web or WhatsApp Desktop. As noted in its FAQ, the company stated that it will not be able to read the biometric information as the authentication process is being done through the device’s operating system.
This has also been verified by the famed independent WhatsApp portal, WABetaInfo who pointed out that the biometric authentication process is indeed using system API which made data extraction impossible. Don’t be surprised if you have not seen this feature on your phone though as it may take some time for the deployment to reach out to all users.
