Micro-blogging platform Twitter has announced that it will not allow non-Twitter Blue users to use text messages as a two-factor authentication (2FA) method after March 20. Anyone who hasn’t subscribed to a Twitter Blue membership will have to, as SMS-based 2FA will become a premium feature with authenticator apps.
Following the ban, regular Twitter users will no longer be able to enroll in the text message/SMS method of 2FA, unless they are a Blue subscriber, the company said in a statement. blog post, After March 20, non-Blue accounts with 2FA still enabled text message “This will be disabled.”
Currently, the platform offers three methods of 2FA – text message, app authentication, and security key.
The Elon Musk-owned company further noted that it encourages non-Blue users to “consider using an authentication app or security key method”. “These methods require you to have physical possession of the authentication method and are a great way to ensure that your account is secure.”
For what it’s worth, SMS easily falls prey to nefarious activities like SIM swap hacks, so if you lose access to SMS-based two-factor authentication because you don’t want to subscribe to Twitter Blue, that’s really cool. There is relief. Using authenticator apps is an easy and secure way to authenticate logins. You can use Google Authenticator or Microsoft Authenticator, or if you have an iPhone, Apple will automatically generate the login code without requiring you to download an authentication app.
Meanwhile, last week, Twitter confirmed that it would charge Rs 650 per month for its Blue service with verification on the web and Rs 900 on Android and iOS mobile devices in India.
In December last year, the micro-blogging platform relaunched its Blue subscription service with verification, costing $8 for Android users and $11 for iPhone owners per month globally. In addition, Blue subscribers in the US can post tweets up to 4,000 characters long. Blue users will also see 50 percent fewer ads in their home timeline.
– Written with inputs from IANS
Post Twitter will remove the high-security login method from your account if you’re not paying for Blue.
