Twitter recently published a message to users saying that subscribe to the new premium features or lose the security of their account. This message appeared on a Twitter user’s account on Saturday.
It appeared as a pop-up message appealing to pay $8 per month to subscribe to Twitter Blue and warning users about the loss of security to their current accounts which is right now two-factor authentication via text message if they do not go for it.
Further, it read that the non-subscribers won’t have access to their account unless they remove the security feature from their account as per the message, starting from 19th March.
Now, let us know more about this new update on Twitter.
Twitter Two-Factor Authentication:
Two-factor authentication is added step toward the security of your account. It is an auto-generated code or otp to log in to the account via text message. This helps safeguard the account from threats and is just additional security to the account where you receive a text on your current phone number.
This extra step helps safeguard online accounts because, in addition to the password, you need access to a separate app, device, or phone number where you can receive the code.
These codes can be sent to users’ smartphones and are generated via apps like Microsoft Authentication or Google Authenticator. And now this authentication via text message is what Twitter will restrict and make available only for Twitter Blue subscribers.
But, what will Twitter gain from this?
The San Francisco-based company has explained that the feature is historic and popular for a long time now but, some bad actors have used and abused it. It was on Wednesday that the company wrote a blog, but it responded to an email on Saturday about the details of the use of security features wrongfully.
It is now not so hidden that Elon Musk has been trying hard to maximize the profits of the company after his $44 billion takeover in October. There are some other ways that have been suggested by Twitter such as an authentication app or security key if they don’t want to subscribe to Twitter Blue.
Twitter Blue is one of those who have allowed the feature previously reserved for celebrities, journalists, and other well-known people which allows anyone to pay for verification.
Other steps that can help secure your account better:
There will be a layer of account security beyond just a password apart from the authentication app or a security key. There is also a small portable device that can generate random numbers after logging into an online account which is a small security key.
The app is on your phone and has the same approach and doesn’t need a separate device to run the authentication app. You should first download the authentication app to secure your Twitter account available on your device. These applications are free on app stores in Apple or Android. There are other options too such as Authy, Duo Mobile and 1 password if not Google and Microsoft Authenticator.
After getting the app on your device, you have to click on the ellipses icon in a circle on your desktop Twitter version. Under “Settings and Privacy” you will find “Security” where you can select “Authentication app” and follow the steps of setting it up. Then you will be asked to share your email address if you don’t have one already.
After completing the process, you are now set to use the auto-generated codes from the app and give it an extra layer of security to your Twitter login.
