Twitter Blue offers a slew of features including the Blue tick for their accounts.

Twitter is ending its SMS-based security feature for non-Blue users today: Here’s what you can use now

Jim HendlerMarch 20, 23 Security, Social, Twitter, Twitter Blue

Twitter is finally approaching the day when it will stop offering SMS-based two-step verification to all users. The platform said that starting March 20, only those with a Twitter Blue subscription will have this option, and everyone else will have to secure their accounts using a myriad of third-party authentication apps from Google, Microsoft and others.

This means that if you don’t pay for Twitter Blue (900 rupees per month for mobile in India), you won’t be able to protect your Twitter account with SMS two-factor authentication. This strange decision caught everyone off guard, but over the past few weeks, many security experts have suggested that using other options won’t compromise your account’s security.

If you don’t want to pay for Twitter Blue and still have two-layer protection, the platform has other options. Instead of using text messages, which are not considered the most secure option, you can switch to an authenticator app that offers better protection for your accounts. You can trust these apps from giants like Google, Microsoft and Authy. Users also have the option of using password managers to protect their accounts.

SECURING YOUR TWITTER ACCOUNT WITH AUTHENTICATOR

Here’s how to change this security setting on Twitter and protect your account:

– Open Settings in the Twitter web app

– Click Security and account access

– Tap Security

– Go to Two-factor authentication

– Deactivate the SMS function by logging in with your password

– Click on Authentication Application

– You need to install one authentication app to start the process

– Scan the QR code you see on the web version of Twitter

– Enter the six-digit code to confirm the authentication process

Twitter Blue is also available online, where it costs users less than what they would pay to subscribe through the mobile app, because Elon Musk has to include the 30 percent tax that Apple and Google charge for their apps in the App Store.

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