Twitter rolls out SMS two-factor authentication

Twitter has enabled two-factor authentication to improve user security across the service.

The authentication will operate via SMS with users opting in to the additional security feature.

Twitter security engineer Jim O'Leary said the security feature will not break applications.

"If you need to sign in to your Twitter account on other devices or apps, visit your 'Applications' page to generate a temporary password to login and authorize that application.'

Twitter has faced pressure to deploy two-factor capability in light of a number of highly publicised account takeovers, including one that targeted The Associated Press.

In that case, the attackers, from the "Syrian Electronic Army," sent a tweet claiming there had been a bombing at the White House and President Obama was injured.

The additional mode of authentication would not stop dedicated attackers who could intercept the SMS verifications or port mobile numbers to capture the six digit keys.