According to Twitter’s announcement on Friday, only Twitter Blue subscribers will have access to text messages as a two-factor authentication process.
The change will happen on March 20. Two additional free options for Twitter log-in authentication will be available to users: a security key and an authentication mobile app.
Users that utilize two-factor authentication, or 2FA, must first input their password and then a security code to access their accounts. This is one of the main ways users keep their Twitter accounts secure.
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The company noted, “While historically a popular form of 2FA, unfortunately, we have seen phone-number-based 2FA be used – and abused – by bad actors. So starting today, we will no longer allow accounts to enroll in the text message/SMS method of 2FA unless they are Twitter Blue subscribers.”
Users who subscribe to Twitter Blue get a blue checkmark on their account. For Android and iOS users, the monthly subscription fee is $11. According to a Twitter account security assessment, only 2.6% of Twitter users had 2FA activated as of 2021, and of those, 74.4% used SMS authentication.
Nonsubscribers of Twitter Blue will have 30 days to stop utilizing the text authentication option and join up for another 2FA sign-in option, according to Twitter. According to Twitter, deactivating text message 2FA won’t immediately separate the user’s mobile number from their account. Musk replied “Yup” to a tweet that claimed Twitter lost $60 million annually “to Pump 2FA SMS”.
SIM hacking—where “bad actors” obtain access to users’ accounts by taking their phone numbers and impersonating them to be them—is a widespread occurrence, making the SMS method one of the least secure kinds of two-factor authentication. In 2019, the method was used to effectively hack Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter.
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One user commented that they “don’t think the site has had a single positive change” after Elon acquired it for $44 billion and seized control of the massive social media corporation. Online reactions have varied from amazement to dismissal.
Musk stated earlier this week via video conference at the Global Government Summit in Dubai that he is still considering leaving his position as Twitter’s CEO and “guesses” he will find a successor before the end of 2023. Musk stated. “I think I need to stabilize the organization and just make sure it’s in a financially healthy place in that the product roadmap is clearly laid out.
I’m guessing probably towards the end of the year would be good timing to find someone else to run the company. I think it should be in a stable position at the end of this year.”
I am a law graduate from NLU Lucknow. I have a flair for creative writing and hence in my free time work as a freelance content writer.