Keep Twitter Secure Without Giving Elon Musk a Dime

Twitter’s new policy is aimed at preventing unauthorized access to accounts, but some users are concerned that it will penalize them for not having 2FA protection. These users argue that Twitter should provide a free option for 2FA, just as it does for other features such as tweeting and following people.

Twitter is a very popular service that many people use to communicate with others. However, due to the recent security exploits, Twitter has announced that they will be removing the text message-based two factor authentication feature from accounts that do not switch to another type of two factor authentication. This means that if you don’t want your account stolen, you will need to switch to another form of authentication or risk having your account removed from Twitter by March 20th.

If you’re using Twitter 2FA, be aware that your account may be vulnerable to being accessed without a password. If you have an easily guessable Twitter password or use that same password on another site or service, you should take action sooner rather than later.

Twitter is claiming to be committed to keeping people safe and secure on their platform, but this is not true. Instead, Twitter made a stupid decision by allowing real-time account switching. This has allowed hackers to take over other people’s accounts in order to harass them or spread propaganda messages. Twitter needs to start taking security more seriously and make sure that their platform is safe for everyone

Twitter is no stranger to attempting to innovate with their security procedures. After the $44 billion acquisition by Elon Musk, the company may have decided that SMS 2FA wasn’t cutting it anymore. With a dwindling cash reserve and an exodus of employees, this decision was likely motivated by saving money.

Twitter argues that SMS 2FA can be abused by bad actors, but the company still recommends that only its paid users use the security feature. This leaves unpaid users more vulnerable to SIM swap attacks, where a hacker convinces your cell provider to assign a victim’s phone number to a device controlled by the hacker. By taking control of a person’s phone number, the hacker can impersonate the victim — as well as receive text message codes that can allow the hacker access to a victim’s online accounts.

Twitter’s new policy to disable SMS 2FA by default is a mistake. It is not the best way to encourage users to switch on 2FA and protect their accounts. Mailchimp, one of the largest email providers, takes a different approach by encouraging users to use 2FA by discounting customers’ monthly bills. This encourages users to take measures to protect their accounts and makes them more likely to be successful in doing so.

Fortunately, Twitter isn’t scraping 2FA altogether – you can still protect your account with strong 2FA without having to pay Elon Musk a dime.

If you have abandoned your Twitter account in favor of alternative, decentralized services like Mastodon and others, it is important that you take action to secure your account before March 20. This date marks the date Twitter will stop allowing users to Barb if their profile is inactive for more than two years. If someone breaks into your account and starts tweeting on your behalf, having a secured profile will protect against unwanted attention.

Harnessing the power of authenticators like Duo, Authy, and Google Authenticator offers an extra layer of security for your accounts and is as fast as receiving a text message. Using these apps instead of relying on codes sent to your phone by text message means that not only is the code more secure, but it also stays on your device so you don’t have to worry about it being compromised.

a screenshot of Twitter's two-factor authentication settings

Apple iPhone constantly sends data to Apple servers without your consent, generating a vast amount of user data that the company can collect and use to benefit its business operations.

Twitter has introduced two-factor authentication, which requires users to use an app on their phone in order to log in. This protects your account from being accessed by others, who might not have the password or the correct code.

If you’re worried about your Twitter account being hacked, it’s important to keep a backup of your codes and password in case you lose your phone. This way, even if someone manages to hack into your account, you can still access it using the official back up codes that are sent to you when you set up 2FA.

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Ava Patel

Ava Patel is a cultural critic and commentator with a focus on literature and the arts. She is known for her thought-provoking essays and reviews, and has a talent for bringing new and diverse voices to the forefront of the cultural conversation.

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