Twitter said on Friday it can allow only paid subscribers to make use of text messages as a two-factor authentication (2FA) method to secure their accounts.
Jakub Porzycki | Nurphoto | Getty Images
Twitter said on Friday it can allow only paid subscribers to make use of text messages as a two-factor authentication (2FA) method to secure their accounts.
After March 20, “only Twitter Blue subscribers will give you the chance to make use of text messages as their two-factor authentication method,” the corporate tweeted.
Two-factor authentication, meant to make accounts safer, requires an account holder to make use of a second authentication method along with a password. Twitter allows 2FA by text message, authentication app and a security key.
The corporate believes phone-number-based 2FA is being abused by “bad actors,” in response to a Wednesday blog post that the corporate’s tweet linked to.
Twitter owner Elon Musk tweeted “Yup” in reply to a user tweet that the corporate was changing policy “because Telcos Used Bot Accounts to Pump 2FA SMS,” and that the corporate was losing $60 million a 12 months “on scam SMS.”
The blue check mark, previously free for verified accounts of politicians, famous personalities, journalists and other public figures, is now open to anyone prepared to pay.
Last month, Twitter said it will price Twitter Blue subscription for Android at $11 monthly, similar to for iOS subscribers.
