India, Jan. 28 -- A simple missed phone call or a rogue attachment is often enough for spyware to be able to gain access to your smartphone. WhatsApp's new Strict Account Settings was made to protect against those types of risks and specifically supports people that are being targeted through advanced cyberattacks versus everyday scams.

The feature was designed for the protection of those users who are so visible or who have roles that make them appealing to be surveilled. For example, journalists, activists, and high-profile individuals are good examples of targets for cyber surveillance.

WhatsApp already encrypts all messages and calls end-to-end by default, but the addition of the Strict Account Settings enables users to reduce the l...