The company is improving security for various uses with an update to Meta Quest, which will also make the device more accessible to people with hearing loss.
After introducing a tool to fight harassment in the metaverse, Meta is loaded with features to protect users and their information in virtual reality (VR). Available through an update to its Quest headset announced on May 16, they include an improvement to the locking system. While it was only possible to lock the entire device before, users can now block individual apps with App Unlock. In other words, parents are able to prevent their children from accessing games using an unlock configuration. Planning to deploy soon parental control tools for VRMeta hopes this feature will be “a useful starting point” for the parents.
Tools for privacy and accessibility in virtual reality
The new version of the Meta Quest software will also make it possible to make secure payments. The 3D Secure payment system, which was developed to prevent fraud in online transactions, can now be used in virtual reality, in addition to the Oculus mobile application. Users no longer have to remove their headphones when they want to securely pay for a purchase.
With this update, Meta is also beginning to test end-to-end encryption (optional) of messages and calls on Messenger in VR to ensure that user information remains private. This system guarantees that only the people who communicate can read the messages exchanged. Meta did not provide further information regarding this test or whether it might lead to a general rollout. Note that last year, the company has decided to postpone the arrival of message encryption on Messenger and Instagram to strike a balance between security and privacy for users online. A decision taken following criticism in relation to the fight against abuse on the platforms.
Finally, the Californian group announced new accessibility options for the hearing impaired. The first allows them to switch from stereo audio to mono audio. In other words, the sound coming out of the left and right speakers of the headphones will thus be the same. With the second, hearing-impaired users can adjust the balance to center the audio towards the right or left channel if they hear better in one ear than the other.