Starting today, Twitter will charge you for two-factor authentication: here are the best (free) alternatives

Highlights

• Starting today (March 20th), Twitter will only allow its Twitter Blue subscribers to make use of Two-factor authentication (2FA) for the platform.
• The non-Blue subscribers will either have to start paying for the subscription or have to rely upon other security alternatives.
• Here’s what you can do to keep your account safe from vulnerabilities and attacks.

Not too long ago, Twitter CEO Elon Musk announced that Twitter would soon start charging for two-factor authentication or, 2FA as we know it. Well, users won’t essentially have to pay just for this standalone “feature”, but will only be able to access the same if they are active Twitter Blue subscribers. The non-Blue subscribers, on the other hand, won’t be provided with the feature and, starting today (March 20th, 2023), 2FA for Twitter will become a paid-tier Twitter Blue feature. Let’s learn how important 2FA is, and how you can still secure your Twitter handle from attacks if you are not willing to pay for Twitter Blue.

2FA: what it is and what benefits it offers

Two-factor authentication ideally helps keep an account safe against online threats like a potential hacking attempt, as in order to access the said account, one has to input the password, as well as an additional code/security key. This provides the user with an additional layer of security, and since the additional code is sent to the user via a text message/SMS, it is more than likely that it is near impossible to intercept. The new rule, however, will restrict the usage of text-based 2FA only to those who have an active Twitter Blue subscription.

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Twitter starts charging for 2FA: what are the alternatives?

To begin with, if you still want to be able to make use of text-based 2FA, you might want to invest in Twitter Blue. In addition to 2FA, Twitter Blue offers other perks, such as a verified checkmark, ability to post longer tweets, ability to edit tweets, change the app icon, and more. That said, if you don’t want to pay for Twitter Blue, you can still secure your account by making use of an authenticator app. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Open Twitter
2. Head to Security and Account Access
3. Choose Two-Factor Authentication
4. Choose your preferred 2FA method (Authentication app, in this case)
5. Download an Authentication app of your choice (the Google Authentication app works just fine)
6. Link the authentication app
7. Voilà!

Do note that there is a third way to secure your account (Security Key) as well, but this method requires you to buy an actual physical security key, which might not be an ideal solution for you if you don’t want to spend money. That said, if you want to keep all of your accounts safe, investing in a security key is yet another alternative available. As for those who want the added security layer for no extra cost, the authenticator app is the best solution available for now.

The post Starting today, Twitter will charge you for two-factor authentication: here are the best (free) alternatives first appeared on 91mobiles.com.

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