Twitter now supports third-party apps instead of SMS for 2-factor authentication

Twitter allows third-party apps for account verification.

Now, you can use a third party app for two-factor authentication instead of SMS text messages. (AP)

Twitter on Thursday announced an extra layer of security on its platform, adding support for third-party apps for two-factor authentication to verify their accounts.

This essentially means Twitter users now have use a third-party authenticator apps such as Google Authenticator, Duo Mobile, Authy or similar installed on your mobile device as an alternative to SMS for verifying your account.

"You'll now be able to use a third party app for two-factor authentication instead of SMS text messages." Twitter said on Thursday.

These third-party apps work independently and generate codes offline to help you use the two-factor authentication. Twitter, however, said it will still relay on SMS as two-factor authentication but has now allowed third-party apps as an alternative.

The micro-blogging site has given a step-by-step direction on how to use the third-party apps.

According to The Verge, this is an important move because SMS-based two-factor authentication uses static codes.

"That means those codes could be intercepted in the event a hacker or some other malicious third-party has access to one or more alternative ways of viewing messages on a device other than having physical access to it," it added.

With third-party apps like Google Authenticator, the codes disappear in about 30 seconds, making it a more secure way to verify your identify and access your account.