Twitter users were greeted early Saturday with an ultimatum from the social media app: Subscribe to the platform’s new premium service or lose a popular account security feature.
A pop-up message warned users they will lose the ability to secure their accounts via text message two-factor authentication unless they pay $8 US a month to subscribe to Twitter Blue.
The message said that starting March 19, users who don’t subscribe will be locked out of their accounts until they remove the security feature.
Here are some questions and answers about why Twitter made this change and alternative ways to secure your account:
What is 2-factor authentication?
Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security to password-protected accounts by having users enter an auto-generated code to log in.
This extra step helps safeguard online accounts because in addition to the password, you need access to a separate app, device or phone number where you can receive the code.
Such codes can be generated by apps like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator. Or they can be sent to a user’s smartphone via text message.
It’s the text message-based two-factor authorization that Twitter is now restricting only to subscribers of Twitter Blue.
Why is Twitter doing this?
In a blog post on Wednesday, the San Francisco-based company acknowledged that the text message-based security method has been historically popular with its users, but it said the feature is being “used — and abused — by bad actors.”
The company did not respond early Saturday to an email seeking more details on how the security method was being abused.
Elon Musk, who completed his $44-billion US takeover of Twitter last October, has been trying to find ways to maximize profits at the company.
Twitter CEO Elon Musk leaves a courthouse in San Francisco on Jan. 24. (The Associated Press)
One of those is Twitter Blue, which among other features allows anyone to pay for verification previously reserved for celebrities, journalists and other well-known people.
In its blog, Twitter encouraged users who are not going to subscribe to Twitter Blue to consider using alternative account security options, specifically an authentication app or security key.
These methods, which require you to have physical possession of the authentication method, are a good way to ensure your account is secure.
Are there other security options?
An authentication app or a security key will also add a layer of account security beyond just a password.
A security key is a small, portable device that generates a set of random numbers that you enter when prompted when logging into an online account.
An authentication app uses the same approach, but instead of a separate physical device, the app is on your phone.
To be clear, two-factor authentication is still not required to log into Twitter, although we highly encourage users to enable it. This change just restricts the 2FA methods available for accounts not subscribed to Twitter Blue.
To set up an authentication app to secure your Twitter account, you will need to download one of a number of available applications to your device. They are free in the Apple or Android app stores. If you’d rather not use Google or Microsoft Authenticator, there are other options, including Authy, Duo Mobile and 1Password.
Once you have the app, open the desktop version of Twitter and click on the icon showing ellipses in a circle. There, you’ll find “Settings and privacy,” then “Security and account access” and finally “Security.” Here, you can select “Authentication app” and follow the instructions to set it up. Twitter will ask you to share your email address to do this, if you have not already.
Once you are all set, you can use the auto-generated numeric codes from your authentication app to add an extra layer of security when logging into Twitter.
MTY Food Group Inc. says its profit and revenue both slid in its most recent quarter.
The restaurant franchisor and operator says its net income attributable to owners totalled $34.9 million in its third quarter, compared with $38.9 million a year earlier.
The results for the period ended Aug. 31 amounted to $1.46 per diluted share, down from $1.59 per diluted share a year prior.
The company behind 90 brands including Manchu Wok and Mr. Sub attributed the fall to impairment charges on property, plants and equipment along with intangibles assets.
Its revenue decreased slightly to $292.8 million in the quarter from $298 million a year ago.
While CEO Eric Lefebvre saw the quarter as a sign that the company’s ongoing restructuring is starting to bear fruits, he said the business was also hampered by significant delays in construction and permitting that resulted in fewer locations opening.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.
Taiga Motors Corp. says the Superior Court of Québec has approved its sale to a British electric boat entrepreneur.
The Montreal-based maker of snowmobiles and watercraft says it will be purchased by Stewart Wilkinson.
Wilkinson’s family office is behind marine electrification brands that include Vita, Evoy, and Aqua superPower.
Wilkinson and Taiga did not reveal the terms or value of the deal but say Wilkinson will assume Taiga’s debt to Export Development Canada and has committed to funding Taiga’s business plan.
The companies say the transaction will allow them to achieve greater economies of scale and deliver high-performance products at compelling prices to accelerate the electric transition.
The sale comes months after Taiga sought bankruptcy protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act to cope with a cash crunch.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.
Toronto-Dominion Bank is facing fines totalling about US$3.09 billion from U.S. regulators in connection with failures of its anti-money laundering safeguards.
The bank also received a cease-and-desist order and non-financial sanctions from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency that put limits on its growth in the U.S. after it was found that TD had “significant, systemic breakdowns in its transaction monitoring program.”
