Oh no, you're thinking, yet another cookie pop-up. Well, sorry, it's the law. We measure how many people read us, and ensure you see relevant ads, by storing cookies on your device. If you're cool with that, hit “Accept all Cookies”. For more info and to customize your settings, hit “Customize Settings”.

Review and manage your consent

Here's an overview of our use of cookies, similar technologies and how to manage them. You can also change your choices at any time, by hitting the “Your Consent Options” link on the site's footer.

Manage Cookie Preferences
  • These cookies are strictly necessary so that you can navigate the site as normal and use all features. Without these cookies we cannot provide you with the service that you expect.

  • These cookies are used to make advertising messages more relevant to you. They perform functions like preventing the same ad from continuously reappearing, ensuring that ads are properly displayed for advertisers, and in some cases selecting advertisements that are based on your interests.

  • These cookies collect information in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used. They allow us to count visits and traffic sources so that we can measure and improve the performance of our sites. If people say no to these cookies, we do not know how many people have visited and we cannot monitor performance.

See also our Cookie policy and Privacy policy.

This article is more than 1 year old

Snapchat slings SMS two-factor authentication

'Culture of security' shift gains ground

Snapchat has deployed two factor authentication as part of its push to increase security across the popular selfie slinging app.

The sexting swap shop allows users to set up SMS log-in verification that makes en-masse account hijacking more difficult, and better protects Snapchat's Snapcash money transfer system.

The additional security measures are welcome, but devoted targeted attackers can still break into accounts by exploiting telecommunications providers' weak security identity checks to port phone numbers.

Users of Snapchat version 9.9 will be able to activate the Login Verification feature on Android and iOS platforms.

The extra security features are the latest efforts in a push to increase the platform's security chops which includes the launch of a HackerOne bug bounty, a regular transparency report, and the hiring of former Google social network security boss Jad Boutros as infosec head. Boutros has already said he aimsto build a "culture of security" at the company.

The push follows Snapchat's legal trouble with the Federal Trade Commission stemming from incorrect claims photos and videos would "disappear forever" when it had remained on devices.

Snapchat Android update

The company also ran into trouble when some 4.6 million names and email addresses were breached in December 2013 after it dismissed that attack vector as theoretical. ®

 

Similar topics

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like