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  • Twitter's New Two-Step
Technology Articles > Social Networking > Twitter > Twitter's New Two-Step

After many attacks on some of the biggest Twitter accounts around, Twitter has finally set up a two-step authentication process. This security measure is meant to stop hackers from breaking into Twitter accounts. However, the new security feature is being met with some criticism.

Setting Up the Two-Step Security Feature

To set up two-step security, go to your account settings; click on security; and choose the "Require Code Verification When I Sign In" option. The next time you log into your Twitter account, you will have to enter you username and password (as usual), and you will also have to wait for Twitter to send you a special login key via text.

At some point during this process, you will have to provide Twitter with your mobile phone number. This information is, supposedly, securely stored. Twitter won't set up two-step authentication for all accounts, so you'll have to activate the feature on your own if you want this kind of security protection.

Problems With Two-Step

Right off the bat, the biggest problem with Twitter's new security feature is that larger Twitter accounts won't be able to use the feature. If there's more than one person logging into a Twitter account on any given day, you'd have to provide Twitter with more than one mobile phone number. This could be problematic. Unless a company has a phone just for Twitter codes (doubtful), it will be impossible for larger organizations to use the two-step process.

The other problem is that in order to use this feature, you have to give up your phone details. Not everyone is keen on providing Twitter with personal phone details. Sure, it might prevent your account from being hacked into, but what is someone gets ahold of this information? Twitter is trying to prevent future hacks from happening, but I'm not certain that the company has chosen the best feature direction.

Too Little Too Late?

It is too late for this security feature? After all, many celebrity and news outlet accounts have already been hacked into. Further, the two-step process really doesn't protect Twitter accounts like AP News, since this account is manned by multiple people. What will Twitter do about these problems? Presumably, Twitter will find a way around criticism of the two-step process, and the company might still work on a plan for larger Twitter accounts.

If you do have a Twitter account that's only used by one person, you might want to set up this protection feature. Even if your account isn't targeted by hackers regularly, it never hurts to have some extra protection, right? Unless, of course, you don't want to give up your mobile phone number. In that case, you'll have to choose a darn good password to prevent hackers from breaking into your account.

What do you think about Twitter's new two-step feature? Is it worth the trouble or is it just another way for another company to gather person information about users? The two-step process looks like it's here to stay, though it will be interesting to see where Twitter takes it in the near future.