Popular messaging app WhatsApp has started rolling out a new security system that aims to keep all of its users' chats private.

This new security update makes use of a two-step verification system or what some would call a two-factor authentication (2FA). The 2FA process adds an extra level of security for users when they try to access their account. Also, an email account can be added to user accounts, which will then be used to reset the login password when it has been forgotten.

The main objective of this new update is to prevent hackers from cloning a specific device. To clone a device, a hacker would need to steal the phone number and coerce a network operator into registering it to another device. The addition of the email account means that the WhatsApp account can only be accessed by only the user.

This new feature, however, is not activated by default and has to be turned on manually. WhatsApp's move to offer this kind of security comes after major social media platforms including Facebook, Google, and Twitter have offered something similar to their users. When users log into their account, they would receive a text message that their account has been accessed and to verify if it is them. 

The introduction of the security update by WhatsApp is one of many new features the company is looking to give to its one-billion-plus users. Previously, WhatsApp introduced a feature that allows users to make and receive calls by tapping the call button. Additionally, audio messages can now be played in the background of the app, and users can switch between conversations with the message still playing.