WhatsApp has become an important communication platform for Nigerians, used for family communication, business, payments-related discussions, and the exchange of personal information. This makes WhatsApp accounts attractive targets for scammers and criminals seeking sensitive information or account takeovers.
WhatsApp has introduced several security and privacy features designed to give users greater control over their accounts. In February 2026, Meta also partnered with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) on a nationwide privacy education campaign encouraging users to make better use of privacy and security tools.
Two-step verification provides an additional layer of protection against account takeover. WhatsApp announced on August 26, 2026, that it was strengthening this feature by upgrading the traditional six-digit PIN to a longer password containing letters, numbers, and special characters.
Users should activate the feature and keep their password private. WhatsApp also advises users never to share their verification codes with anyone. Receiving a verification code you did not request could mean someone is trying to register your number on another device.
Passkeys provide another way to verify that the account owner is trying to access WhatsApp. According to WhatsApp, passkeys can use a fingerprint, Face ID or a phone’s screen-lock code instead of relying on traditional verification codes. WhatsApp said in August 2026 that more than one billion people had set up passkeys.
A person who gains access to a WhatsApp account may try to connect another computer or device to it. The Linked Devices feature allows users to see which devices are connected to their account.
If an unfamiliar device appears, you can log it out. WhatsApp’s Help Centre explains that users can disconnect linked devices directly from their primary phone.
This makes it a useful feature to check regularly, particularly after using WhatsApp Web on a public or shared computer.
Chat Lock allows users to place sensitive conversations in a protected folder that requires the phone’s password or biometric authentication, such as a fingerprint. Notifications can also hide the details of locked conversations.
For Nigerians who keep sensitive business, financial, or personal conversations on WhatsApp, Chat Lock can provide an additional barrier if someone gets physical access to their unlocked phone.
Scammers sometimes use unsolicited calls to reach potential victims. WhatsApp’s Silence Unknown Callers feature prevents calls from unknown numbers from ringing normally, although they remain visible in the call list.
WhatsApp says the feature was designed to help screen out spam, scams and calls from unknown people.
It does not prevent the caller from appearing in the call list, so you can still review legitimate calls from unfamiliar numbers later.
Many people change their WhatsApp settings without reviewing how much personal information they make available to others. Privacy Checkup provides a guided review of important privacy settings.
WhatsApp says the tool takes users through several privacy controls covering areas such as messages, calls and personal information.
Nigerians should use the feature periodically to decide who can see information such as their profile details, online status and other personal information.
Disappearing Messages can automatically remove new messages from a conversation after a selected period.
The feature can be useful when sharing information that does not need to remain permanently in a chat. WhatsApp originally introduced disappearing messages with a seven-day option and has since expanded its disappearing-message options.
However, users should remember that disappearing messages do not guarantee that information cannot be saved. Someone could potentially record or photograph information before it disappears.
View Once allows photos and videos to disappear from a chat after they have been opened. WhatsApp introduced the feature to give users greater control over sensitive media.
WhatsApp has also introduced View Once voice messages, which can be played only once.
This can be useful when sharing sensitive information that does not need to remain in a conversation permanently. Nevertheless, users should avoid sending highly sensitive information to people they do not trust.
When a WhatsApp account receives suspicious messages, users do not have to continue engaging with the sender. WhatsApp provides Block and Report options for dealing with unwanted or suspicious contacts.
WhatsApp says reporting problematic behaviour helps it keep the platform safer, while blocking prevents unwanted contacts from messaging the user.
This is particularly important when a stranger requests passwords, bank information, verification codes or other personal details.
WhatsApp uses end-to-end encryption by default for personal messages and calls. This means only the people communicating can access the content, rather than WhatsApp itself.
WhatsApp describes encryption as a foundation of its security system. However, encryption cannot protect a user who voluntarily gives a criminal their verification code, password or other sensitive information.