WhatsApp has started to introduce a new control mechanism that makes the account login process more stringent on devices using outdated Android and iOS versions. According to a new news, this feature, which is enabled on the server side, does not require the installation of a specific WhatsApp application version and is being gradually rolled out to both Android and iPhone users. The system can prevent users from logging in to WhatsApp accounts on devices with a supported or safe operating system version. The user is first asked to update the operating system of the phone and is not allowed to pass the login screen until this process is completed. Thus, WhatsApp can require not only the application itself, but also the operating system environment in which the application runs, to have a certain security level.
The warning screen that appears for affected users explains the steps to follow in order to log in to WhatsApp again. The app prompts the user to go to the phone’s Settings and install the Android or iOS system update, if available. After the update is completed, WhatsApp can be reopened and the account login process can be tried again. In addition, the warning screen also includes information on how to check the operating system version installed on the device. According to the source, this process cannot be skipped; Therefore, the user cannot access his account without making the operating system update required by WhatsApp.
WhatsApp may control security more tightly on older operating systems
It is stated that the main reason behind this approach is security. The possibility of publicly available security vulnerabilities may increase in operating system versions that have limited update support or have not been updated for a long time. Attackers can also try to make it easier for malicious software to be installed on devices by using known vulnerabilities. Although WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption system ensures that the message content is protected during transmission, hijacking the phone’s operating system poses a different security problem. For example, links sent on behalf of a trusted person from a device infected with malware can cause users on the other end to open these links without suspecting.
Therefore, WhatsApp checking the operating system version at the login stage can create an additional layer of control beyond the application’s own security measures. However, this method has a significant disadvantage, especially for old phone owners. A phone whose manufacturer no longer offers updates may not be able to upgrade to the required Android or iOS version, even if it is hardware capable of running WhatsApp. In such a case, users will not only need to update the application and may need to switch to a newer device to access their WhatsApp account. Therefore, while the change increases the security level, it may also cause access problems on long-life devices.
For now, it is not clear exactly on which Android and iOS versions WhatsApp will show this warning. There is no official list in the source that the company is targeting specific operating system versions. Therefore, there is not enough information to say that every older Android or iOS version will be automatically blocked. Since it is a system activated on the server side, it seems possible for WhatsApp to change the criteria when necessary without distributing an application update. If users encounter such a warning, they must first check for available system updates from the Settings menu of their devices.
WhatsApp has been ending support for very old operating systems over time for a long time, but the method explained here works a little differently from the classic support discontinuation application. This time, the user encounters a screen clearly stating that he needs to update the operating system during the account login phase, and the option to skip the process is not offered. From a security perspective, using an up-to-date operating system is a reasonable necessity to close known vulnerabilities. On the other hand, users’ options may be quite limited on phones that cannot receive manufacturer updates. WhatsApp’s announcement of which versions it will evaluate in this context will provide a clearer picture about the future of the application on old devices.