Twitter has just made the two-factor authentication (2FA) process much easier on its mobile app. Now, users can sign in to their accounts using a physical security key.

Keeping Your Twitter Account Secure With 2FA

2FA comes in many forms, and Twitter has just added a new method to its list. The platform now allows you to use a security key to sign in to your account on mobile, which was previously only available on the desktop version of Twitter.

If you don't know what the security key 2FA method is, it allows you to verify your account by plugging in a USB security key to your device, or by using NFC. You can also use your phone as a security key, making it even easier to sign in to your account.

Having a security key makes it extremely difficult for anyone to hack into your account. Even if the hacker has your username and password, they would still need to possess the physical key, which only you own.

Twitter Support announced the security update in a Tweet, noting that "you can now log in with your physical security key on Android and iOS, like on desktop."

So if you've been using a physical security key to sign in to your Twitter account on your computer, this is good news. It means that you can finally use the same security key to log in to your account from your smartphone.

In addition to this 2FA method, Twitter also allows you to verify your account by text, or with an authentication app.

It's highly recommended that you use one of the 2FA methods to sign in to your account, as it offers an extra layer of protection. Twitter outlines the different ways you can activate 2FA in a post on the Help Center.

Many high-profile accounts on Twitter were hit hard by a cryptocurrency scam in July 2020, which really showed the importance of using 2FA on Twitter.

Accounts belonging to Elon Musk, Apple, Joe Biden, and many more, were all hacked. Each sent out Tweets encouraging users to make bitcoin payments to the hacker. Twitter later discovered that the hackers took advantage of an admin tool on the site.

Don't Underestimate the Importance of 2FA

The fact that Twitter added support for physical security keys on its app might not seem that important. However, it can definitely help prevent cyber attacks in the future.

2FA is often seen as an unnecessary and annoying step to take when signing in, but its importance shouldn't be understated.