Twitter won’t just shut down overnight. But security experts warn that the drastic job cuts could open the door to bad actors exploiting the platform’s vulnerabilities and compromising user accounts.
While there’s not much you can do about Musk’s destruction of one of the Internet’s major information ecosystems, there are steps you can take to protect your account if you, like millions of other Twitter users, aren’t ready to fly the cage. look for an alternative.
Enable multi-step authentication
If you only use your username and password to log in to Twitter, it’s important, especially now, to add an extra step to the process to make it harder for hackers to get into your account.
Twitter has three methods to choose from: text message, an authentication app, or a security key. Since there have been some glitches with users not receiving text messages to verify their accounts, and because it’s generally considered a more secure option, using the authentication app is probably your best bet.
To do this, you’ll need to download one of a number of apps available on your device. They are free in the Apple or Android app stores and some examples include Google or Microsoft Authenticator, Authy, Duo Mobile and 1Password.
Once you have the app, open the desktop version of Twitter and click on the icon that shows ellipses in a circle. There you will find “Settings and privacy”, then “Security and account access” and finally “Security”. Here, you can select “Authentication Application” and follow the instructions to set it up. Twitter will ask you to share your email address to do this, if you haven’t already.
Once you’re ready, you can use the numeric codes automatically generated by your authentication app to add an extra layer of security when you sign in to Twitter.
Block third party access
Jane Manchun Wong, a freelance software and security researcher in Hong Kong who follows Twitter closely, recommends revoking permissions for third-party sites and apps through your Twitter account.
That’s because if there’s a potential security issue with Twitter’s API (or Application Programming Interface, which allows third parties to access Twitter data to create apps that work with Twitter, for example) with fewer people working in the company, fixing it will inevitably take longer.
To disable this feature, start in the Security and Account Access tool and go to Apps and Sessions. Here, you should find all the third-party apps that are connected to your Twitter account, including some that you may have. linked years ago that no longer exist — and you can revoke access to any of them.
Download your archive
For the nostalgic, researching, or digital hoarder among us, the idea of losing a decade or more of our tweeting history is a disaster. Fear not, though. It may take a while, but you can download your Twitter “archive” if you want to make sure it’s saved – just in case.
As with other more complex features, this tool is only available on the desktop version of Twitter, in the “Your Account” section of the settings. You’ll need to re-enter your password and go through two-factor authentication if you’ve set it up. When your archive is ready to download, you will receive a notification on Twitter. Again, you’ll need to download it on the desktop version of the site. While this process normally takes about 24 hours, it may take longer now. Some users have also reported having to try more than once.
Save your followers list
While there is no perfect replacement for Twitter – and of course Twitter is still here! — many users, especially those in journalism, technology and academia, are signing up for Mastodon, a previously little-known platform that launched in 2016. Mastodon is a decentralized social network. This means it is not owned by a single company or billionaire. Rather, it is composed of a network of servers, each operating independently but able to connect so that people on different servers can communicate. Signing in can be complicated – you’ll need to choose a “server” to join, but regardless of which one you choose, you can still communicate with people on other servers, such as how you can email people from your Gmail account, even if they’re in Outlook or another email server.
Once you’re logged in, you can go to fedifinder.glitch.me and find your Twitter followers or any Twitter list you might need to see if they also have Mastodon accounts. Many Twitter users are also listing other social networks and content information in their bios or even Twitter display names so people can contact them – just in case.