To enable this new option, users will need to navigate to Settings > Account > Privacy > Fingerprint lock. Users will then need to confirm their fingerprint within the app.
The new feature will allow users to choose between locking WhatsApp immediately, after 1 minute, or after 30 minutes.
Users will also have access to the "show content in notifications" option, which will allow users to choose whether they want a preview of the message to be shown even if WhatsApp is locked.
Android users should expect the update to roll out in the next few days.
WhatsApp on iOS already has support for both Touch ID and Face ID, which can be accessed by navigating to Settings > Account > Privacy > Screen Lock.
WhatsApp recently filed a lawsuit against Israeli cyber intelligence organisation NSO Group which claims that the organisation created an exploit which enabled malicious parties to install spyware on WhatsApp users' smartphones.
WhatsApp's voice call feature was exploited to make users believe they were receiving a call; instead, malware was being installed on their smartphone, giving malicious parties complete access to the victim's device.
WhatsApp has since patched the exploit.
