Five steps to keep your Twitter account secure

Your Twitter account is only as secure as your password. So how can you make sure that your account stays as protected as possible?

Use a strong password:

Prevention is better than cure. Keep hackers out of your personal accounts by using a password that is hard to guess - not your pet’s name, or your own, or password, for that matter - and a mix of letters and numbers. In fact, throw a few symbols in there for good measure.

Change it regularly:

Yes, we know it’s a pain to have to remember passwords when you change them regularly but experts advise a regular refresh to keep your security in shape.

Use a password manager:

If you are on board with creating random passwords that you’ll never remember without help, you can use a password manager. Typically, the services install a plug-in to your browser, so you can save passwords as you go along, allowing to create complex and hard to crack logins for every site you require secure sign in. A couple of options include 1Password, LastPass or Norton Identity Safe.

Try Twitter’s two-step verification:

Twitter offers you the chance to verify your identity every time you log into the site through a new device or browser, using a verification code sent to your phone.Not only do you need your password, but you’ll also have to put in the randomly generated code Twitter sends you before you can access your account. The obvious disadvantage though is if you forget your device, you won’t be able to log into your account immediately. But it’s worth the extra hassle for a bit of peace of mind.

Be aware:

There are plenty of genuine apps and websites that use Twitter to authenticate you, but it’s worth checking them out before you allow access. Keep an eye too on what they’re asking permission to do, such as post to twitter on your behalf. If you aren’t sure, you can always revoke access in Settings>Apps.