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If you haven’t yet updated the security settings on your Twitter account, the clock is ticking.
Elon Musk’s social network has announced last month that it will take away access to SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) from users who don’t pay for the company’s $8 per month Twitter Blue plan.
Users who have set up 2FA have until Monday, March 20 to sign up for Twitter Blue to keep SMS 2FA or turn it off and set up 2FA using a third-party authentication app.
Fortunately, changing your 2FA settings is a quick, easy, and free process that should take you no more than a few minutes. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your Twitter account is safe.
Basically, 2FA is an extra security measure that protects your account from someone breaking into it. It requires a user to confirm their identity not only with their password, but also with a second method of authentication, such as a code sent to their phone via SMS.
That means that even if an attacker has figured out your password and tried to access your account, they still have to take an extra step before they can gain access.
Since Elon Musk took over Twitter last year, the company has cut costs wherever possible. The 2FA change is a result of that, with Musk claiming in a tweet that scammers are costing the company $60 million a year with bogus texting charges.
At the company Official Page In detail about the announcement, Twitter said it is discontinuing phone number-based 2FA because it has been “used — and abused — by bad actors.”
Changing your 2FA settings is easy. First, you go to the settings page in your Twitter app or on the desktop site and select “security and account accessFrom there, select the “security” option and follow the prompts to get to the 2FA page.
For most people, especially mobile users, the easiest option is to set up 2FA using an authenticator app. Popular and trusted apps include Google Authenticator, Duo Mobile, and Twilio’s Authy.
Once you’ve downloaded the app of your choice, follow the prompts on Twitter to link it to your account. Once that’s done, your account is all set.
If you haven’t updated your settings by March 20, don’t worry. You will not lose access to your account. But things get less secure when Twitter automatically disables your text-based 2FA.
While you can still use Twitter, your account is more vulnerable to takeover by someone who gains access to your account information.
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