Today marks the last day for Twitter users to switch away from their current SMS two-factor authentication (2FA) method for additional security of their accounts.
In November, Twitter took the precautionary measure of replacing SMS-based 2FA with an alternative, more secure authentication protocol. The company believed that greater account security was necessary as SMS messaging is not as invulnerable as some other authentication methods.
The new authentication protocol, either through a dedicated authentication app or via a physical security key, makes it much more difficult for a hacker to gain access to someone’s account. While the new protocol currently can only be used with certain mobile phones, it is slowly being made available to all mobile phones with further plans being made to make the feature available to computers and other devices.
So far, many Twitter users have made the switch, but if you haven’t done it yet, today is the day! To switch your 2FA method to the more secure version, you must have your mobile phone connected to your Twitter account. Once you have done this, you can go to the ‘Account Settings’ page on the Twitter home page and look for the ‘Two-Factor Authentication’ tab. Here, you can select the ‘Authentication Apps’ or ‘Security Key’ option, depending on what kind of authentication device you want to use.
If you don’t choose an alternative authentication method before midnight today, then your current 2FA method will be switched over to the new protocol automatically. Twitter also recommends entering your secondary phone numbers and email addresses under the ‘Account Settings’ page as a precautionary backup solution should you ever lose access to your primary authentication devices.
Not only is making the switch an effective way of protecting your account from hackers, but it also serves as a reminder for users to be ever-vigilant when it comes to their online security. So be sure to make the switch today and make sure your accounts are as secure as can be!
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