The emergence of social media networks has been one of the most remarkable developments in the consumer technology industry over the last two decades.
The type of social connections and interactions we have offline have been transformed by social media. It has also improved how we communicate and stay informed.
Today, billions of people use one or more of the existing social networking platforms on a daily basis to communicate with family, friends, and colleagues.
Furthermore, many of us use some of our social media accounts to keep up with events and current affairs that are happening around us and in the lives of those with whom we are connected on the networks.
With all of the benefits of social media, it’s easy to become engrossed in your online activities and overlook an important aspect of your digital life — security.
However, there is a real risk of account breach (unauthorised access) by bad actors with malicious intent. In fact, thousands of accounts are compromised each year.
Affected users’ personal information and identities may be stolen and sold to other bad actors, who will almost certainly use them for criminal purposes.
Two-Step Verification
Such account breaches require platform companies to improve their security measures. Two-step verification is a popular security feature.
This account security feature, sometimes called two-factor authentication (2FA), requires anyone trying to access an account to provide additional proof of authenticity.
The second step usually requires entering a code sent to the account owner’s phone or answering a pre-defined security question. Only the correct code or answer will unlock the account.
Two-step verification adds account security.
When someone logs in from a device not recognised as yours, you’ll get a text or email alert. Usually, the unrecognised device’s IP address and location are included.
Before smartphones became popular, internet users only needed a username or email address and password to log in. Growing concerns about password theft and hacker sophistication. Using bots and stolen account credentials, hackers could break into vulnerable accounts.
Users can enable two-step verification on many web and mobile apps today. The process is sometimes mandatory.
Below, we look at how social media platforms implement this important security feature.
To activate the feature, you have to take the following steps:
- When logged in, go to your Settings and select the Security and Login option.
- Go down to the Use two-factor authentication option then click Edit.
- Select the authentication method of your choice and then follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
- Once you have turned on the chosen authentication method, click Enable.
Once that it successfully set up, when trying to log in from an unrecognized device, you will have the options to
- Consent to login attempts from recognized devices.
- You can also use recovery codes for situations when you don’t have your phone.
- Tap your security key on another device. The security key can be added when setting up the two-step authentication process.
When the preferred method is SMS codes sent via mobile text message, the following steps have to be taken to activate the feature.
- Go to your profile page and tap the menu icon in the top right-hand corner.
- Select the Settings option from the list.
- From the list that appears, select Privacy and Security.
- Choose Two-Factor Authentication.
- Tap on the switch icon next to Text Message.
- If you don’t have a phone number confirmed and associated with your account, you’ll be prompted to provide it.
- After entering the number, tap the next icon to complete the setup.
Alternatively, if your preferred authentication method is an authentication app, you’ll need to follow the steps below.
- Go to your profile page and tap the menu icon on the top right corner.
- Select the Settings option from the list.
- From the list that appears, select Privacy and Security.
- Choose Two-Factor Authentication.
- Tap the Get Started button if you haven’t previously turned on the two-step authentication feature.
- Tap on the switch icon next to Authentication App and follow the on-screen instructions.
- To complete the process, enter the code you received from the authentication app.
The following are the steps you have to take to set up your Twitter login verification via SMS.
- From the top menu, choose the Profile icon and select Settings and Privacy.
- Click on Account settings and then Set up login verification.
- After reading the guiding instructions, click Start.
- Input your password and click Verify.
- Tap or click Send code.
- Enter the verification code you received on your device before you click Submit.
- You should click Get Backup Code. Doing so will generate a code for future use in situations where you are without your valid phone number for whatever reason. It is advised you safely store the code. For example, you can take a screenshot of it and save it to your cloud storage application.
To turn on two-step verification on WhatsApp, you’ll have to:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Account.
- Select Two-step verification.
- Tap Enable.
You can also add your email address upon activating this feature. The email address will be an alternative for you to receive a link should you forget your PIN. Using the link, you’ll be able to disable two-step authentication. The company strongly advises users to be careful enough to give the correct email address since they do not verify the provided address. Similarly, if you never requested to confirm your phone number but received a link from WhatsApp, you’re advised to ignore it as someone else may be trying to do without your knowledge or permission.
In order to be able to set up the two-step verification on LinkedIn, the user is required to have a phone number confirmed and associated with their account.
To activate the extra account security feature, you should take the following steps:
- Click on the Profile icon with the label Me at the right area of the top menu bar.
- From the drop-down menu, choose Settings & Privacy.
- Under the Account section, select Login and Security.
- In the new page that opens, select the Account tab (the first tab before Privacy).
- Click Turn On on the right end of the Two-step verification to activate the feature. If you have not connected a phone number, you’ll have to click Change and then Add a phone number.
- Input the verification code sent your connected phone number into the box and click Verify.
Snapchat
Snapchat offers the two standard authentication methods earlier mentioned. The following are the steps you have to take to turn on the feature.
- When on the main Camera home screen, tap on the Profile icon located on the top left corner.
- Tap the Settings icon shown as a cogwheel.
- Select Two-Factor Authentication:
- Follow the subsequent instructions that are provided on your screen.
The company also advises users who activate this feature to generate a Recovery Code and save it in a safe location. It will be helpful in scenarios where the phone is missing, or phone number is changed, or when the phone is restored to original settings.
If you’ve never used two-factor authentication on social media, do so now. Use what you’ve learned to protect your digital life from online harm. You should apply this safety feature to all your online accounts that contain sensitive information (e.g., online banking application, financial trading or investing platforms, healthcare, and pharmaceutical applications).
How to enable Two-Step verification on Social Media accounts
The emergence of social media networks has been one of the most remarkable developments in the consumer technology industry over the last two decades.
The type of social connections and interactions we have offline have been transformed by social media. It has also improved how we communicate and stay informed.
Today, billions of people use one or more of the existing social networking platforms on a daily basis to communicate with family, friends, and colleagues.
Furthermore, many of us use some of our social media accounts to keep up with events and current affairs that are happening around us and in the lives of those with whom we are connected on the networks.
With all of the benefits of social media, it’s easy to become engrossed in your online activities and overlook an important aspect of your digital life — security.
However, there is a real risk of account breach (unauthorised access) by bad actors with malicious intent. In fact, thousands of accounts are compromised each year.
Affected users’ personal information and identities may be stolen and sold to other bad actors, who will almost certainly use them for criminal purposes.
Two-Step Verification
Such account breaches require platform companies to improve their security measures. Two-step verification is a popular security feature.
This account security feature, sometimes called two-factor authentication (2FA), requires anyone trying to access an account to provide additional proof of authenticity.
The second step usually requires entering a code sent to the account owner’s phone or answering a pre-defined security question. Only the correct code or answer will unlock the account.
Two-step verification adds account security.
When someone logs in from a device not recognised as yours, you’ll get a text or email alert. Usually, the unrecognised device’s IP address and location are included.
Before smartphones became popular, internet users only needed a username or email address and password to log in. Growing concerns about password theft and hacker sophistication. Using bots and stolen account credentials, hackers could break into vulnerable accounts.
Users can enable two-step verification on many web and mobile apps today. The process is sometimes mandatory.
Below, we look at how social media platforms implement this important security feature.
To activate the feature, you have to take the following steps:
- When logged in, go to your Settings and select the Security and Login option.
- Go down to the Use two-factor authentication option then click Edit.
- Select the authentication method of your choice and then follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
- Once you have turned on the chosen authentication method, click Enable.
Once that it successfully set up, when trying to log in from an unrecognized device, you will have the options to
- Consent to login attempts from recognized devices.
- You can also use recovery codes for situations when you don’t have your phone.
- Tap your security key on another device. The security key can be added when setting up the two-step authentication process.
When the preferred method is SMS codes sent via mobile text message, the following steps have to be taken to activate the feature.
- Go to your profile page and tap the menu icon in the top right-hand corner.
- Select the Settings option from the list.
- From the list that appears, select Privacy and Security.
- Choose Two-Factor Authentication.
- Tap on the switch icon next to Text Message.
- If you don’t have a phone number confirmed and associated with your account, you’ll be prompted to provide it.
- After entering the number, tap the next icon to complete the setup.
Alternatively, if your preferred authentication method is an authentication app, you’ll need to follow the steps below.
- Go to your profile page and tap the menu icon on the top right corner.
- Select the Settings option from the list.
- From the list that appears, select Privacy and Security.
- Choose Two-Factor Authentication.
- Tap the Get Started button if you haven’t previously turned on the two-step authentication feature.
- Tap on the switch icon next to Authentication App and follow the on-screen instructions.
- To complete the process, enter the code you received from the authentication app.
The following are the steps you have to take to set up your Twitter login verification via SMS.
- From the top menu, choose the Profile icon and select Settings and Privacy.
- Click on Account settings and then Set up login verification.
- After reading the guiding instructions, click Start.
- Input your password and click Verify.
- Tap or click Send code.
- Enter the verification code you received on your device before you click Submit.
- You should click Get Backup Code. Doing so will generate a code for future use in situations where you are without your valid phone number for whatever reason. It is advised you safely store the code. For example, you can take a screenshot of it and save it to your cloud storage application.
To turn on two-step verification on WhatsApp, you’ll have to:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Account.
- Select Two-step verification.
- Tap Enable.
You can also add your email address upon activating this feature. The email address will be an alternative for you to receive a link should you forget your PIN. Using the link, you’ll be able to disable two-step authentication. The company strongly advises users to be careful enough to give the correct email address since they do not verify the provided address. Similarly, if you never requested to confirm your phone number but received a link from WhatsApp, you’re advised to ignore it as someone else may be trying to do without your knowledge or permission.
In order to be able to set up the two-step verification on LinkedIn, the user is required to have a phone number confirmed and associated with their account.
To activate the extra account security feature, you should take the following steps:
- Click on the Profile icon with the label Me at the right area of the top menu bar.
- From the drop-down menu, choose Settings & Privacy.
- Under the Account section, select Login and Security.
- In the new page that opens, select the Account tab (the first tab before Privacy).
- Click Turn On on the right end of the Two-step verification to activate the feature. If you have not connected a phone number, you’ll have to click Change and then Add a phone number.
- Input the verification code sent your connected phone number into the box and click Verify.
Snapchat
Snapchat offers the two standard authentication methods earlier mentioned. The following are the steps you have to take to turn on the feature.
- When on the main Camera home screen, tap on the Profile icon located on the top left corner.
- Tap the Settings icon shown as a cogwheel.
- Select Two-Factor Authentication:
- Follow the subsequent instructions that are provided on your screen.
The company also advises users who activate this feature to generate a Recovery Code and save it in a safe location. It will be helpful in scenarios where the phone is missing, or phone number is changed, or when the phone is restored to original settings.
If you’ve never used two-factor authentication on social media, do so now. Use what you’ve learned to protect your digital life from online harm. You should apply this safety feature to all your online accounts that contain sensitive information (e.g., online banking application, financial trading or investing platforms, healthcare, and pharmaceutical applications).
The emergence of social media networks has been one of the most remarkable developments in the consumer technology industry over the last two decades.
The type of social connections and interactions we have offline have been transformed by social media. It has also improved how we communicate and stay informed.
Today, billions of people use one or more of the existing social networking platforms on a daily basis to communicate with family, friends, and colleagues.
Furthermore, many of us use some of our social media accounts to keep up with events and current affairs that are happening around us and in the lives of those with whom we are connected on the networks.
With all of the benefits of social media, it’s easy to become engrossed in your online activities and overlook an important aspect of your digital life — security.
However, there is a real risk of account breach (unauthorised access) by bad actors with malicious intent. In fact, thousands of accounts are compromised each year.
Affected users’ personal information and identities may be stolen and sold to other bad actors, who will almost certainly use them for criminal purposes.
Two-Step Verification
Such account breaches require platform companies to improve their security measures. Two-step verification is a popular security feature.
This account security feature, sometimes called two-factor authentication (2FA), requires anyone trying to access an account to provide additional proof of authenticity.
The second step usually requires entering a code sent to the account owner’s phone or answering a pre-defined security question. Only the correct code or answer will unlock the account.
Two-step verification adds account security.
When someone logs in from a device not recognised as yours, you’ll get a text or email alert. Usually, the unrecognised device’s IP address and location are included.
Before smartphones became popular, internet users only needed a username or email address and password to log in. Growing concerns about password theft and hacker sophistication. Using bots and stolen account credentials, hackers could break into vulnerable accounts.
Users can enable two-step verification on many web and mobile apps today. The process is sometimes mandatory.
Below, we look at how social media platforms implement this important security feature.
To activate the feature, you have to take the following steps:
- When logged in, go to your Settings and select the Security and Login option.
- Go down to the Use two-factor authentication option then click Edit.
- Select the authentication method of your choice and then follow the instructions that appear on your screen.
- Once you have turned on the chosen authentication method, click Enable.
Once that it successfully set up, when trying to log in from an unrecognized device, you will have the options to
- Consent to login attempts from recognized devices.
- You can also use recovery codes for situations when you don’t have your phone.
- Tap your security key on another device. The security key can be added when setting up the two-step authentication process.
When the preferred method is SMS codes sent via mobile text message, the following steps have to be taken to activate the feature.
- Go to your profile page and tap the menu icon in the top right-hand corner.
- Select the Settings option from the list.
- From the list that appears, select Privacy and Security.
- Choose Two-Factor Authentication.
- Tap on the switch icon next to Text Message.
- If you don’t have a phone number confirmed and associated with your account, you’ll be prompted to provide it.
- After entering the number, tap the next icon to complete the setup.
Alternatively, if your preferred authentication method is an authentication app, you’ll need to follow the steps below.
- Go to your profile page and tap the menu icon on the top right corner.
- Select the Settings option from the list.
- From the list that appears, select Privacy and Security.
- Choose Two-Factor Authentication.
- Tap the Get Started button if you haven’t previously turned on the two-step authentication feature.
- Tap on the switch icon next to Authentication App and follow the on-screen instructions.
- To complete the process, enter the code you received from the authentication app.
The following are the steps you have to take to set up your Twitter login verification via SMS.
- From the top menu, choose the Profile icon and select Settings and Privacy.
- Click on Account settings and then Set up login verification.
- After reading the guiding instructions, click Start.
- Input your password and click Verify.
- Tap or click Send code.
- Enter the verification code you received on your device before you click Submit.
- You should click Get Backup Code. Doing so will generate a code for future use in situations where you are without your valid phone number for whatever reason. It is advised you safely store the code. For example, you can take a screenshot of it and save it to your cloud storage application.
To turn on two-step verification on WhatsApp, you’ll have to:
- Go to Settings.
- Select Account.
- Select Two-step verification.
- Tap Enable.
You can also add your email address upon activating this feature. The email address will be an alternative for you to receive a link should you forget your PIN. Using the link, you’ll be able to disable two-step authentication. The company strongly advises users to be careful enough to give the correct email address since they do not verify the provided address. Similarly, if you never requested to confirm your phone number but received a link from WhatsApp, you’re advised to ignore it as someone else may be trying to do without your knowledge or permission.
In order to be able to set up the two-step verification on LinkedIn, the user is required to have a phone number confirmed and associated with their account.
To activate the extra account security feature, you should take the following steps:
- Click on the Profile icon with the label Me at the right area of the top menu bar.
- From the drop-down menu, choose Settings & Privacy.
- Under the Account section, select Login and Security.
- In the new page that opens, select the Account tab (the first tab before Privacy).
- Click Turn On on the right end of the Two-step verification to activate the feature. If you have not connected a phone number, you’ll have to click Change and then Add a phone number.
- Input the verification code sent your connected phone number into the box and click Verify.
Snapchat
Snapchat offers the two standard authentication methods earlier mentioned. The following are the steps you have to take to turn on the feature.
- When on the main Camera home screen, tap on the Profile icon located on the top left corner.
- Tap the Settings icon shown as a cogwheel.
- Select Two-Factor Authentication:
- Follow the subsequent instructions that are provided on your screen.
The company also advises users who activate this feature to generate a Recovery Code and save it in a safe location. It will be helpful in scenarios where the phone is missing, or phone number is changed, or when the phone is restored to original settings.
If you’ve never used two-factor authentication on social media, do so now. Use what you’ve learned to protect your digital life from online harm. You should apply this safety feature to all your online accounts that contain sensitive information (e.g., online banking application, financial trading or investing platforms, healthcare, and pharmaceutical applications).
