Verify Code is a new browser extension from WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, that aims to improve the security of WhatsApp web versionthe the company has announced. The extension works by verifying that the contents of the web version of WhatsApp have not been tampered with. The goal is to make it much more difficult for a potential attacker to compromise the data or privacy of WhatsApp’s end-to-end encrypted messages when using the browser-based version of the service.
The extension follows the release of WhatsApp multi-device beta last year. This is intended to make using the messaging service from devices other than your primary phone easier and smoother. Since the feature’s launch, WhatsApp says it has seen an increase in the number of people accessing its service through web browsers, which presents new security challenges compared to an app.
There is nothing particularly new about the security methods behind Code Verify. Ultimately, only a hash of the code running in your browser is compared, with a hash held by Trusted Third Party Cloudflare. But its value lies in automating this process, making it easy for anyone, regardless of their technical knowledge, to understand and use.
Once you have verified, the browser extension uses a traffic light system to show you if there are any problems. Green means that everything is fine, but orange suggests that you may need to refresh your page or that you have a separate browser extension that interferes with Code Verify. Red means there is a problem and WhatsApp help page says the extension will be able to help users solve it.
Meta says that the extension cannot read or access your messages, and none of this data is sent to Cloudflare. Meta has also published the source code for Code Verify on GitHub, opening the door for other websites to make use of its security features. The extension is now available for Chrome and Edge, and Meta says that a version of Firefox is “coming soon.” There’s no mention of a Safari version in Meta’s press release, but its GitHub page notes that support is on the way.