Twitter’s New Policy: Pay or Lose SMS Two-Factor Authentication
Twitter has announced a new policy that could leave some users vulnerable to online attacks. Twitter Blue, the platform’s subscription service, will require people who rely on SMS two-factor authentication to secure their accounts to pay. Users who don’t pay will lose the extra layer of security provided by the two-factor authentication process after March 20.
Two-factor authentication, also known as 2FA, is a security process that requires users to enter a password and a code they receive through a text message or an authenticator app to log into their account. The process adds an extra layer of protection to users’ accounts, making it more difficult for hackers to gain access.
Twitter Limits 2FA for Non-Subscribers to Twitter Blue
Twitter’s move has sparked concerns among users, who have until March 20 to change their two-factor authentication method or subscribe to Twitter Blue. The subscription service costs $8 per month if you subscribe through the web, or $11 a month on a mobile device.
Twitter highly encourages the use of two-factor authentication, even though it is still not required to log into the platform. The change only limits the 2FA methods available for non-Twitter Blue subscribers.
We need to change or pay for the subscription service to ensure our accounts remain secure while we wait to see how this move affects Twitter’s user base and whether it will prompt users to switch to other social media platforms.
Effective March 20, 2023, only Twitter Blue subscribers will be able to use text messages as their two-factor authentication method. Other accounts can use an authentication app or security key for 2FA. Learn more here:https://t.co/wnT9Vuwh5n
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) February 18, 2023
How to Change Your Two-Factor Authentication App on Twitter
Twitter has recently announced that users who rely on SMS two-factor authentication will need to pay for Twitter Blue, the platform’s subscription service, after March 20. In order to switch to another 2FA method, Twitter users can click on “security and account access” in their account settings and choose from one of three options. This change is just another example of how Twitter is attempting to attract more subscribers to the service.
Twitter’s Latest Move: Limiting 2FA Methods for Non-Subscribers
Twitter has recently made headlines for its new policy that limits the 2FA methods available for non-subscribers to Twitter Blue. This move has sparked concerns among users, who have until March 20 to switch to a different 2FA method or pay for the subscription service. The company has been trying to entice more users to subscribe to Twitter Blue by offering new features such as longer tweets and a coveted blue checkmark. However, The Information has reported that Twitter has only about 180,000 subscribers in the US, indicating that the service isn’t particularly popular among the platform’s users.
Twitter Limits Text Message 2FA
In a recent blog post, Twitter announced that it will no longer allow “accounts to enroll in the text message/SMS method of 2FA unless they are Twitter Blue subscribers.” The move comes as hackers have abused the 2FA method, which has involved transferring a person’s phone number to another device in what is known as SIM swapping. Users who disable text message 2FA can update their number in the account’s settings to ensure their accounts remain secure.
Twitter Faces Scrutiny on Account Security as Two-Factor Authentication Comes Under Fire
Twitter has faced more scrutiny and whistleblower complaints regarding account security as users complain that two-factor authentication isn’t working properly. Hackers have tried to access codes sent through text message by transferring a person’s phone number to another device in what is known as SIM swapping, prompting the recent move to limit text message 2FA. Twitter users who disable text message 2FA can update their number in the account’s settings to ensure their accounts remain secure.