Two-step authentication on Twitter How it works and why it's used

 Two-step authentication on Twitter How it works and why it's used

  Protecting our accounts is essential to avoid security issues.  It is essential to avoid intruders entering social networks such as Twitter or any other service or platform we use.  But it is not enough just to have a good password, as we will see.  For this reason, in this article, we will explain how to configure two-step authentication on Twitter and make the account fully protected.

  Why you should enable two-step authentication on Twitter

  What does two-step authentication mean?  We can say that it is a process to prevent an intruder, even if he knows the password, from entering an account.  You will need a second step to verify that you are or are not a legitimate user and that you are able to login.

  Let's say our Twitter password has been stolen.  Anyone can easily get into our account, read messages, put a tweet, delete followers... If two-factor authentication (2FA) is activated, once the password is entered, this intruder will have to enter a code, the second step.

  In general, this second step is a code that comes to us by SMS.  We can also use mobile applications such as Google Authenticator, which works in the same way and generates a code that we must put on Twitter or wherever we want to verify that we are a legitimate user.

  So, do you have to turn on multiple authentication on Twitter?  If we want to improve security and protect our account as much as possible, it is obviously highly recommended.  This way we will have greater protection beyond just having a password barrier.

  Steps to enable two-factor authentication on Twitter

  The first thing we need to do to activate two-step authentication on Twitter is to log in with our account.  Later, once in, you have to click on More options, in the menu on the left, and enter Settings and privacy.  Then you have to go to Security and access Account > Security.

  Enable two-step authentication on Twitter

  There we will see the two-stage authentication section and we must click on it.  It will show us different options, as we can see in the image below.

  Activate 2FA on Twitter

      Text message: The first option is to receive SMS on your mobile phone.  It is the most common and most used method by users.  However, we must bear in mind that it is not the most secure, because if accessing our mobile they can see the codes that we receive.  For example, if a virus sneaks up on us and can read the SMS we receive.

      External application: Another way is through an application that we install on the mobile phone.  We will associate our Twitter account with this program, and when we go to log in, it will show us a code on the phone that we can put on the social network when we connect from another computer.

      Security key: This variant is being used increasingly.  It is a physical device, as if it is a pendrive, we have to connect it to the computer via USB.  This will verify that we are indeed the legitimate user of that Twitter account.

  Start the verification process

  When we choose the method that interests us most, just click on it.  For example a text message.  A new window will open where we have to select the start button.

  Start Twitter Authentication

  Later we will be asked to put the password for our account.  This is important to verify that we are indeed a legitimate user.  We simply put the corresponding key and give it for verification.

  The next thing we have to enter is the phone number.  They will send us a 2-step verification code to this number when we try to access our account from another computer.  It is important that we put one that we use and that will have a line.

  Put your phone number on Twitter

  In a few seconds, we will receive an SMS to this mobile phone with a code to verify that this phone really corresponds to us.  We will be asked to put in these numbers to activate two-factor authentication.

  We'll see a backup code that we can save in case there's a problem.  They are for individual use and will work, for example, if we call from a place where there is no mobile coverage and we will not receive SMS or if we lose the phone.

  Two-factor authentication is enabled on Twitter

  From that moment on, we will activate two-step authentication on Twitter.  If we go back to the two-stage authentication section, we will see that the text message box is checked.

  We can perform the same process with the other two options.  It is similar and will also be enabled to get 2FA on Twitter and make our account more secure.  We will just have to choose the corresponding option and follow the process to configure it.

  What if we want to disable two-factor authentication on Twitter?  It is also very simple. We will only have to go to the two-stage authentication and uncheck the text box or the box that we have configured.  It will ask us to confirm twice, and from that moment on, our Twitter account will no longer be protected by two-factor authentication (2FA).

  Conclusions for enabling two-step authentication on Twitter

  So is it a good idea to turn on two-step authentication?  Without a doubt, this is something to keep in mind not only for Twitter, but for any social network or platform we use.  This will allow us to get additional protection.

  We have seen that there are different options for enabling 2FA on Twitter, with the possibility of receiving a code by SMS, an external application or a physical key.  Any of them is logically better than none, but it is true that the least secure is receiving the code by message to the mobile phone.

  Ultimately, our advice is to activate two-step authentication on Twitter as soon as possible.  It's something that will help us protect the account.  Also, as a supplement, it is interesting that we periodically change the access token that we use in the social network.  This will ensure that we always have a secure password that has not been leaked anywhere thus increasing the security.