{"id":480895,"date":"2023-02-20T11:32:39","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T09:32:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/?p=480895"},"modified":"2023-02-20T11:32:39","modified_gmt":"2023-02-20T09:32:39","slug":"twitter-starts-charging-for-sms-two-factor-authentication","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mybroadband.co.za\/news\/internet\/480895-twitter-starts-charging-for-sms-two-factor-authentication.html","title":{"rendered":"Twitter starts charging for SMS two-factor authentication"},"content":{"rendered":"

Twitter is restricting access<\/a><\/strong> to its text-based two-factor authentication (2FA), requiring users to have a Blue subscription to secure their account with the feature.<\/p>\n

However, non-Twitter Blue subscribers can still use a third-party authentication app or a security key to secure their accounts. Twitter Support said the change would take effect from next month \u2014 Monday, 20 March 2023.<\/p>\n

“Effective March 20, 2023, only Twitter Blue subscribers will be able to use text messages as their two-factor authentication method,” it said<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“Other accounts can use an authentication app or security key for 2FA.”<\/p>\n

Twitter said text-based 2FA has historically been its most popular form of authentication. However, it noted that it has seen the feature used and abused by malicious actors, hence the change.<\/p>\n

It added that the availability of text-based 2FA for Twitter Blue subscribers would vary by country and carrier.<\/p>\n

It should be noted that Twitter Blue isn’t available in South Africa, meaning users in the country will have to enrol for an authentication app or security key-based 2FA.<\/p>\n

Responding to criticism from tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, Twitter CEO Elon Musk said<\/a><\/strong> the platform is “being scammed by phone companies” with a $60 million per year bill for “fake 2FA SMS messages”.<\/p>\n

This works out to approximately R1.1 billion a year.<\/p>\n

“Rule #1: Never charge for something that was previously free,” Brownlee said<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Replying to Musk, he suggested that Twitter should point users to authenticator apps in its messaging about the removal of free SMS-based two-factor authentication.<\/p>\n

“Most people just do SMS 2-factor because it’s the easiest thing. Now all those people’s accounts are less secure,” said Brownlee.<\/p>\n

Despite the controversy around Twitter Blue subscriptions following Elon Musk’s takeover,\u00a0Meta has also started testing paid-for verification<\/a><\/strong> for Facebook and Instagram.<\/p>\n

The company will begin testing the subscription in Australia and New Zealand “later this week”.<\/p>\n

Users can purchase a monthly subscription for the web for $11.99 (R216, excl. VAT) or iOS and Android for $14.99 (R271).<\/p>\n

“To help up-and-coming creators grow their presence and build community faster… we’ll begin testing a new offering called Meta Verified, a subscription bundle on Instagram and Facebook that includes a verified badge,” Meta said.<\/p>\n

Meta will authenticate accounts using government identification documents, and Meta Verified subscribers will receive the following benefits:<\/p>\n