WhatsApp has announced the launch of a new update that will make your experience on the app more secure: Strict Account Settings. This feature is a direct response to the sophistication of current cyberattacks, which, although infrequent, represent a real threat to high-risk profiles such as journalists, public figures, and company executives. This launch comes just as the platform has been accused of allowing Meta to read WhatsApp chats. What are Strict Account Settings for? The new feature allows users to restrict the app's functionality to the maximum extent possible to mitigate common attack vectors. Among the most notable measures is the automatic blocking of attachments and multimedia content sent by numbers not saved in the contacts list. To activate this option (which will be rolled out gradually in the coming weeks), users should navigate to: Settings > Privacy > Advanced options. A new layer of security thanks to Rust And no, we're not talking about the survival video game. Beyond the buttons we see, WhatsApp has revealed a profound technical change. The company has begun internally implementing the Rust programming language. Why is this relevant for marketing and eCommerce? Because Rust is known for its "memory security," which helps prevent vulnerabilities that spyware often exploits to access photos, videos, and messages. Why has WhatsApp made this decision? We haven't asked them, but they surely want to improve the experience for all their users and guarantee the privacy of their platform. However, despite these technical advances, doubts remain about Meta's transparency. Recently, as we've already mentioned, the platform has faced media and legal pressure regarding the true nature of its encryption. According to Bloomberg, a new international lawsuit filed this January 2026 accuses Meta of accessing WhatsApp chats, calling end-to-end encryption "fake" and alleging that the company has the capacity to analyze and store the private communications of billions of users. This controversy directly contradicts the company's official stance, which maintains that "no one outside the chat, not even WhatsApp, can read the messages." The resolution of these legal disputes will be crucial for the future of commercial communication and user loyalty on the app. Some, like Elon Musk, have seized upon this accusation to try and improve their business: "WhatsApp isn't secure. Even Signal is questionable. Use X Chat." And we'll clarify this last point in case you're considering taking Mr. Musk's advice. A community post has demonstrated, based on X's own help page, that according to what the CEO of X has said about WhatsApp, his X Chat wouldn't be secure either: "X Chat offers end-to-end encryption, but lacks direct confidentiality: if the key is compromised, all previous messages are exposed. Private keys are controlled by X and are only protected by a 4-digit PIN. Metadata is collected. Signal provides direct confidentiality, unique keys for each device, and minimal metadata."