No WhatsApp calls from phones without SIM

Now you can use WhatsApp on the same phone in which you have the linked SIM card. Soon WhatsApp is looking to bring update with sim binding feature. The government has instructed WhatsApp to introduce a SIM binding feature. SIM binding refers to linking a device such as a smartphone with a SIM card. Currently, this technique is extensively used by banks. Banking apps or payment apps like PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay work on the same phone that has a SIM card associated with a bank account. This technique is used for security purposes.

How is it verified right now? Currently, when creating a WhatsApp account, it is necessary to have a valid phone number for the verification process, even if the SIM card is in a different phone. Alternatively, if you are using WhatsApp on the same phone where your SIM card is inserted and you remove the SIM card after verification, WhatsApp will still function on that phone. Apart from this, there are also websites that provide fake numbers for creating WhatsApp accounts, but such practices will no longer be possible.

What’s the objective?
To prevent the growing instances of fraud through fake phone numbers, WhatsApp is now taking steps. Recently, several cases of fraud have emerged using cloned and fake foreign numbers. During this time, attempts were made to deceive people by engaging in financial fraud and luring them into explicit video calls. Many individuals have filed complaints regarding such incidents. Subsequently, the government instructed WhatsApp to take action against these numbers and strengthen its security features.

How many accounts are closed?
In collaboration with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the Department of Telecommunications, WhatsApp has also blocked several reported numbers. In March, WhatsApp blocked 4.7 million accounts. Prior to that, in February, 4.5 million accounts were shut down.

WhatsApp comes up  with new security feature
Last month, WhatsApp announced additional security features for its users, such as Account Protect, Device Verification, and Automatic Security Code. The Account Protect feature, included in these new offerings, will involve an additional security verification if a user transfers their WhatsApp account from an old device to a new one. Before switching to the new device, the company will ask users to verify their account on their old device.