After March 20, Twitter will require its users to either switch to a different form of Two-Factor Authentication or subscribe to the paid Twitter Blue service, which costs $11 per month if purchased via mobile, in order to maintain SMS-based 2FA security for their accounts.
Twitter is set to discontinue the use of text message-based two-factor authentication (2FA) for all users, prompting notifications to be sent out to its user base asking them to remove the security feature. This follows an official announcement from Twitter stating that SMS authentication for accounts will now only be available for paid subscribers of the Twitter Blue service.
In a blog post, Twitter cited abuse of the phone-number based 2FA by bad actors as the reason for the change. Users who fail to switch to another 2FA method or become Twitter Blue subscribers will lose SMS-based 2FA security after March 20. However, alternative two-factor verification options such as authenticator apps and security keys will remain available. Twitter CEO Elon Musk has previously claimed that the company is being scammed by phone companies for $60m/year of fake 2FA SMS messages.
The Twitter Blue service, which includes the option to purchase a verification badge, costs $8 per month. Users have 30 days to disable text authentication and switch to the other two options provided before the feature is automatically disabled on March 20. Many users have expressed their anger at the change.
In a blog post, Twitter cited abuse of the phone-number based 2FA by bad actors as the reason for the change. Users who fail to switch to another 2FA method or become Twitter Blue subscribers will lose SMS-based 2FA security after March 20. However, alternative two-factor verification options such as authenticator apps and security keys will remain available. Twitter CEO Elon Musk has previously claimed that the company is being scammed by phone companies for $60m/year of fake 2FA SMS messages.
The Twitter Blue service, which includes the option to purchase a verification badge, costs $8 per month. Users have 30 days to disable text authentication and switch to the other two options provided before the feature is automatically disabled on March 20. Many users have expressed their anger at the change.
Effective March 20, 2023, only Twitter Blue subscribers will be able to use text messages as their two-factor authentication method. Other accounts can use an authentication app or security key for 2FA. Learn more here:https://t.co/wnT9Vuwh5n
— Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) February 18, 2023
An in-app notification on Friday prompted Twitter users to disable SMS two-factor authentication or face losing access to their accounts. The decision to only allow paid Twitter users to use SMS authentication has been met with criticism, with users outside the US noting that Twitter Blue is not available in their countries, leaving them more vulnerable without the option of SMS two-factor authentication.
Celebrities such as Alyssa Milano and Lauren Jauregui have expressed concern over the risk posed to their accounts as public figures. This decision is one of several controversial moves made by Twitter's CEO Elon Musk, who faced backlash over Twitter Blue's sale of verification badges and mass layoffs.
While other authentication methods such as Duo and Google Authenticator are still available, some users may consider leaving the app as a result of this decision.
Celebrities such as Alyssa Milano and Lauren Jauregui have expressed concern over the risk posed to their accounts as public figures. This decision is one of several controversial moves made by Twitter's CEO Elon Musk, who faced backlash over Twitter Blue's sale of verification badges and mass layoffs.
While other authentication methods such as Duo and Google Authenticator are still available, some users may consider leaving the app as a result of this decision.
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-Anurag
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