Twitter users can now reset their password via text message

• by Lance Whitney 
   @lancewhit
 



James Martin/CNET

Twitter has tweaked its security options to help you more easily reset your password and safeguard your account.

Unveiled on Thursday, one new measure lets you reset your password through SMS, aka text messaging. Alternatively, you can enter an email address or account name to receive your reset credentials by email instead.

To give the SMS option a whirl, you'll first need to associate your mobile phone number with your Twitter account if you haven't already done so. To do this, follow the steps outlined at Twitter's "Adding your mobile number to your account" Help Center page. After you activate your phone, you should then disable any text notifications that you don't want to receive.

If you opt for the SMS alert, you'll receive a code on your phone that you can enter at the Twitter Sign in page. You can then create and type a new password for your Twitter account. At this point, you should also review the security settings for Twitter to see if you want to tighten them further. For example, you can tell Twitter to ask for your phone number or email address in addition to your username anytime you want to reset your password.To request a password reset via text message or email, click the Forgot password link from Twitter's Sign In page. You can do this at the full website or mobile site as well as from Twitter's iOS and Android apps. At the prompt, type your mobile phone number to receive the reset information via SMS, or type your email address or username to receive it via email.

Finally, Twitter will more aggressively deal with what it considers suspicious log-in attempts. As described in a Thursday blog post, the site will now analyze log-in attempts based on location, device, log-in history, and other factors. If it identifies a suspicious log-in, it will ask for further information to verify your account and also send you an alert email so you can change your password if necessary.

Other websites have long offered SMS password resets and related security measures. So it's good to see Twitter finally upping its account protection for all users.

(Via ZDNet)