Who will no longer be able to log in to WhatsApp* and Telegram from October 1, 2026

From October 1, 2026, some users of popular messengers may face the impossibility of authorization. The restrictions are related to the planned update of the security policy and the tightening of the technical requirements of the platforms. Here's who will be hit first:

Application developers systematically disable support for older versions of Android and iOS. If your smartphone has not received updates from the manufacturer for a long time, the messenger will either stop running, or require you to install a version that the hardware will not physically pull. In this case, only replacing the device will help.

If the SIM card associated with the account has not been used and replenished for a long time, the operator has the right to block it and subsequently sell it to another person. Not only will you lose access to your chat rooms, but you risk a new owner of that number entering your profile.

Platforms have a tough fight against fraudsters. Accounts seen in mass mailing of ads, phishing links or suspicious content are blocked by algorithms almost instantly. Such a profile can be restored in extremely rare cases.

Attackers are increasingly intercepting SMS with confirmation codes or re-releasing other people's SIM cards. Unless you have two-step authentication enabled (an additional login password), your account is virtually unprotected against social engineering techniques.

Check the relevance of the app version, make sure your phone number is active and decorated on you, and be sure to enable two-factor authentication in your privacy settings. It will take a few minutes, but it will save your data.

*WhatsApp is owned by Meta, a company recognized as extremist and banned in Russia.

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