Google – AFP, 23 may 2013
 |
Twitter is
stepping up security measures (AFP, Yasuyoshi Chiba)
|
SAN
FRANCISCO — Twitter said Wednesday it was stepping up security measures for the
popular messaging service following a series of high-profile breaches by
hackers hitting media organizations and others.
Twitter
said it would implement a new login verification system, "a form of
two-factor authentication" which is "a second check to make sure it's
really you" when a user signs in.
"Of
course, 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," said Jim O'Leary of Twitter Product Security.
Some recent
attacks took over Twitter feeds and delivered fake tweets using the accounts of
Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, Financial Times and other news
organizations.
Last month,
hackers spooked markets after breaking into the AP Twitter account and falsely
reporting President Barack Obama had been injured after two blasts at the White
House.
Twitter
said the new system would be an option for users, and would allow them to
require a verification code for each sign-in.
"You'll
need a confirmed email address and a verified phone number. After a quick test
to confirm that your phone can receive messages from Twitter, you're ready to
go," O'Leary said.
The
security system will send a text message to the user's mobile phone with a
verification code that would be entered for the login.
While
Twitter has seen phenomenal growth as a social media outlet, its security has
been questioned. Twitter said in February it was hit by a
"sophisticated" cyber attack and that the passwords of about 250,000
users were stolen.
James
Gabberty, professor of information systems at Pace University, said the new
verification system appeared positive but "it depends on how they deploy
it."
He said the
decision to use a separate communications channel such as a mobile phone is
"generally very safe" but that it is preferable if the phone and
Internet services are different carriers with "a different
architecture."
"If it
is a different company, then this is extremely safe and gives a very high level
of assurance that the integrity of the message is not compromised."
But
Gabberty said Twitter still has other security problems which need to be
addressed, such as requiring strong passwords and frequent changes in
passwords.
"I
stay away from Twitter because it's such an insecure system. It's begging to be
hacked," he said.
The Syrian
Electronic Army, which appears to be aligned with the government of President
Bashar al-Assad, has claimed credit for hacking AFP, AP and other news
organizations.
Earlier
this month, the Twitter feed of satirical US news website The Onion was also
taken over by the Syrian group aiming to inject its own sardonic spin on the
deadly conflict.
The Onion
posted details of how its feed was hijacked, describing how emails were sent to
some employees in a phishing spoof to gain access to passwords.
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