Twitter offers new security for users

SAN FRANCISCO, March 17 (UPI) -- To thwart hackers, microblogging site Twitter, whose headquarters are in San Francisco, announced a new security option for users who connect over public WiFi.

An "always use HTTPS" setting has been introduced, giving users access to the same kind of technology used to protect online bank accounts and electronic purchases.

Users can make the option automatic and permanent in Twitter's security settings.

Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure makes an Internet connection secure by checking a Web site's authenticity.

The move follows an announcement last week by the Federal Trade Commission that it was closing a security investigation into Twitter after the social networking company accepted a settlement stemming from the FTC's charge that "Twitter deceived consumers and put their privacy at risk by failing to safeguard their personal information," InformationWeek reported.

As part of the settlement, Twitter must now establish and maintain "a comprehensive information security program that is reasonably designed to protect the security, privacy, confidentiality, and integrity of non-public consumer information," the FTC said.

Unsecured wireless connections can be hacked and the data stream intercepted, experts say.

The FTC investigated security breaches that occurred at Twitter between January and March 2009 when hackers gained access to non-public user information and tweets that users had designated as "private," and were able to generate fake tweets.

Hacked Twitter accounts can cause problems, Graham Cluley, of the security firm Sophos, told BBC News.

"What has happened in the past is that high profile people have had their account snatched," he said.

"When that person is someone like Ashton Kutcher who has 6 million followers, then someone can send a message from them that might be spam or phishing or malware," he said.

Social networking site Facebook announced in January it was introducing HTTPS security.