Only users who paid a monthly fee will be able to have their account verified by text message
Image via PexelsTwitter is set to remove the ability to use text messages for two-factor authentication from March 20th.
The social-media company tweeted that only subscribers who pay a monthly fee will be able to have a text sent to their phone to verify a sign-in attempt.
Two-factor authentication, meant to make accounts more secure, requires an account holder to use a second authentication method in addition to a password.
There are fears that users who don't pay for Twitter Blue will be less secure on the platform.
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
Emmet Ryan , Technology Correspondent with the Business Post , says the move is a cause for concern:
"Undoubtedly there's definitely a chance people are going to be less secure, because most people are not going to pay €8 a month for Twitter, that's just a reality.
He added, "As a result, those people are going to be more at risk of being hacked because essentially all that will be required is your password to be hacked and while although it's not the easiest thing in the world, it's not necessarily challenging for hackers these days."
But the owner of the social media site, Elon Musk, has addressed the issue.
He claims free authentication apps for two-factor authentication are much more secure and can still be used for free.
Use of free authentication apps for 2FA will remain free and are much more secure than SMS https://t.co/pFMdxWPlai
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 18, 2023
