Twitter beefs up security following recent hacking spate

Twitter is bringing in an optional two-step login for users to beef up security following recent high-profile breaches.

The micro-blogging site said it would introduce the new system 'to make sure it's really you' when a user signs in.

Recently news organisations' accounts, such as the Financial Times and the newswire service the Associated Press (AP) were hacked.

According to the BBC, some attacks have come from political organisations, notably the Syrian Electronic Army, which supports President Bahsar al-Assad.

Twitter product security head Jim O'Leary said that despite the new security plans, users should start out with a strong password.

It said the new system would allow users to opt in to a two-step system that would require a verification code for each sign-in.

News organisations including the BBC were warned by Twitter last month to tighten security in the wake of the high-profile hacks, the report added.