Twitter adds two-step verification to beef up security

Twitter finally announced the rollout of a two-step verification security feature. We have seen this coming for a long time now. The feature allows you to add a third-party verification system, namely a security code sent to your phone.

Gmail and other companies already has this feature integrated. Many security experts and critics alike, questioned why the company hasn’t included this feature earlier than it did. Together with more than a billion dollar annual turnover, Twitter has more than 200-million active users where 250 000 of them have had their accounts hacked.

We have seen big brands’ accounts hacked like Burger King and Jeep. The accounts of The Onion and The Financial Times have been under suspected attack from Syrian military groups as well.

http://youtu.be/IsdvJI0AK5M

With this security feature enabled, “you’ll be asked to register a verified phone number and a confirmed email address.” A six-digit security code will be sent to your mobile before you log in to your account each time you sign in to Twitter.

In the announcement, Twitter says that with the verification-code enabled, your account will work with other applications “without disruption.” Though as the New York Times noted, this would pose a hassle to big companies where Twitter accounts are sometimes managed by several employees.

Minutes after the release of this security feature founder of torrent site, Megaupload, Kim Dotcom tweeted stating that the it’s copyright infringement. He said that “Google, Facebook, Twitter, Citibank, etc. offer two-step authentication. Massive IP infringement by U.S. companies. My innovation. My patent” Vaguely and ironically, he then later announced: “I never sued them. I believe in sharing knowledge and ideas for the good of society. But I might sue them now cause of what the U.S. did to me.”

Twitter reassures us saying that “even with this new security option turned on, it’s still important for you to use a strong password and follow the rest of our advice for keeping your account secure.”