Twitter May Offer Two-Step ID Verification After Embarrassing Account Break-Ins
By Melony Roy
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The recent hijacking of the Associated Press "Twitter" account, which allowed a false report of an attack at the White House to go out (see related story), has left users questioning Twitter's security.
Now, the social media site may be doing something about it.
After several high-profile hacks, tech blogs are reporting that Twitter is testing new security measures.
"There are definitely steps Twitter could and should take -- for example, the two factor verification that Google, Dropbox, even Facebook has. There have been talk this week if that's coming soon," notes Allison Stadd, digital communications manager and social media consultant for a Philadelphia-based company.
The two-step verification process reduces fraud by forcing users to provide two pieces of information to verify their identity, she explains.
"For example, for Google you would provide, obviously, your e-mail address and your password, and then it would generate a code that's sent to you that's kind of like the second step, so when you provide that code you prove that you have that mobile (device) with you."
She notes that users must opt in for two-step verification and, even though it may seem like a pain, you are better protected.
