Twitter’s latest announcement has caused quite a stir among its users. It appears that the social media giant will no longer support SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) after March 20th, 2023. If users don’t upgrade to Twitter Blue, which costs $8 a month on Android and $11 a month on iOS, or switch to a more secure 2FA method, they will lose access to this feature altogether.
Nowadays, SIM swap attacks are increasingly common, and anyone who has fallen victim to one knows how devastating they can be. Even Twitter’s old CEO, Jack Dorsey, fell prey to this technique four years ago. It’s easy to see how someone could gain access to your accounts simply by stealing a phone number, and that’s a risk that’s not worthwhile for a lot of users.
While Twitter’s official reason for this change is to improve security, there may be a more straightforward explanation. Sending SMS messages costs money, and Twitter is not exactly swimming in cash these days. Even before Elon Musk became involved, the company had been phasing out SMS-based 2FA.
So, what should one do if they don’t want to lose the added protection of 2FA? There are other, more secure ways to protect your Twitter account. One option is to sign up for Twitter Blue, which offers additional features in addition to a more secure 2FA. Another option is to use a physical security key, which is a small device that you plug into your computer or phone to authenticate your login attempts. Finally, you can use an authenticator app, which generates a unique code that you enter along with your password to log in.
In conclusion, while Twitter’s decision to discontinue SMS-based 2FA may cause some inconvenience, it’s ultimately a good move for users. By eliminating this less secure option, Twitter is forcing its users to adopt more robust security measures. Whether you choose to upgrade to Twitter Blue or use another form of 2FA, it’s essential to take online security seriously and do what you can to protect your accounts.
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