Ask Dave Taylor
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • YouTube Videos
  • Top Categories
  • Subscribe via Email
  • Ask A Question
  • Meet Dave
  • Home
  • Twitter Help
  • Fast Guide to Disabling “Login with Twitter” On Apps & Web Sites

Fast Guide to Disabling “Login with Twitter” On Apps & Web Sites

November 18, 2022 / Dave Taylor / Twitter Help / No Comments

I hear that Twitter is shutting down and that it’s now considered dangerous to be using “Login with Twitter” on other sites due to potential site hacks. Not good! How can I revoke all of my Twitter login authorizations ASAP?

While it’s clear that Twitter is in the midst of a turbulent and chaotic period with the change of ownership and purge of existing employees, I have to say that I am not convinced that the service is going to go kaput in the next 72 hours and then be wide open to hackers and malicious actors. That might just be a wee bit of hyperbole from the anti-Musk crowd. Either way, however, whether Twitter is going to be just a distant social media memory in three months or a thriving and growing re-invented all-in-one social media service, it’s always smart to take the time to review your security and affirm that the authorized apps or Web sites utilizing your Twitter account or credentials are all safe and legit.

In general, I recommend against the “login with X” shared credentials anyway, whether it’s Apple, Facebook, Google, Twitter, or another service. It’s convenient, but it’s risky because if one is compromised, it can make accessing other sites and services much easier for a ‘bot or hacker. Instead, I suggest a robust password management system with long, complex password suggestions like 1Password or LastPass. I use 1Password to have different account credentials (and different passwords) on every site I use nowadays. Oh! And turn on 2-factor authentication too.

FINDING SECURITY SETTINGS ON TWITTER

To start, let’s get to the Security & Privacy settings on Twitter. Easiest is to go to Twitter.com in a Web browser. It’s a slick interface and the left side shows lots of categories to help navigate the network:

retract cancel login with twitter credentials authorizations - twitter main menu

Click on “More” and a menu pops up:

retract cancel login with twitter credentials authorizations - more menu

If you’re curious, the latest information about Twitter Blue is interesting reading, but if you don’t think it’s worth checking out while everything is in such a high level of chaos, well, no worries, just ignore it for now. At this point you want to click on “Settings and Support“, which expands the menu with a few more choices:

retract cancel login with twitter credentials authorizations - more menu > settings and support

Now we’ve found Settings. Okay! Click on “Settings and privacy” to proceed…

TWITTER SETTINGS AND PRIVACY

This, finally, moves you into the world of Settings and Preferences for your Twitter account, and there are a lot of options! Choose “Security and account access” from the left side, and it will show three main areas:

retract cancel login with twitter credentials authorizations - main settings and preferences

This is a good time to hop to Security and ensure you have 2-factor authentication enabled (and I recommend both text messages to your phone and an auth app like Authy for redundancy). Here’s a tutorial: Protect your Twitter Account with 2-factor Authentication.

For this task, however, click on “Apps and sessions“…

retract cancel login with twitter credentials authorizations - apps and sessions

I am always curious about logged-in devices and account access history, both worth a peek, but click on “Connected apps” to see what apps and Web sites you’ve authorized to utilize your Twitter account in one form or another.

APPS AND SITES AUTHORIZED TO UTILIZE YOUR TWITTER ACCOUNT

The list is interesting, but it’s listed by service, not necessarily by how that site or service is using the credentials:

retract cancel login with twitter credentials authorizations - authorized apps and sites

Fortunately, you can actually click on any of the entries listed and learn a bit more about what level of authorization you’ve enabled. For example, lower down on my list is the formerly popular and now fairly dormant Clubhouse social chat app. A click reveals how it’s using my Twitter account:

retract cancel login with twitter credentials authorizations - authorization for clubhouse app

This one’s a read-only access to my Twitter account, which is no different to my public feed since I don’t have an invite-only Twitter account. Not too alarming. The important thing here, however, is the red link Revoke app permissions. Since I am no longer actively using Clubhouse, it’s a reasonable request to minimize my exposure to potential hacks and malicious code. Oddly, there’s no confirmation that the app permission is actually revoked, but the site will vanish from your list of connected apps.

TweetDeck, a Web site that’s tied directly into Twitter and offers an alternative way to interact with friends and followers, has a lot greater permission:

retract cancel login with twitter credentials authorizations - tweetdeck permissions

Notice I granted permission back in 2010 and the credentials still haven’t expired. Not sure why it doesn’t auto-expire everything on an annual basis. It would be a momentary pain to log in again, but still seems better than having something authorized for 12 years without once checking if I want to retain that external access.

CONNECTED ACCOUNTS

Finally, once you’re done cleaning up this list of apps and sites, go back to the “Security and account access” page and choose “Connected accounts”. I don’t have any – as I said, I prefer separate accounts on other sites and apps – but if you have any, this is where they might also show up:

retract cancel login with twitter credentials authorizations - connected accounts

If they are here, this is where you can revoke and remove those connections. Before you do, however, make sure you have another way to access your accounts on those sites too…

And that’s it. Now you know how to ensure that you know exactly how your Twitter account is enabling other apps and Web sites and how to axe that access as needed. All that’s left is to grab some popcorn, settle into a comfy chair, and watch how the next few weeks unfold at Twitter HQ.

Pro Tip: I’ve been on Twitter since the early days and have written lots and lots of useful tutorials. Please check out my twitter help area for more useful guides. Oh, and why not follow me, @DaveTaylor, on Twitter too? Thanks!

About the Author: Dave Taylor has been involved with the online world since the early days of the Internet. Author of over 20 technical books, he runs the popular AskDaveTaylor.com tech help site. You can also find his gadget reviews on YouTube and chat with him on Twitter as @DaveTaylor.

Let’s Stay In Touch!

Never miss a single article, review or tutorial here on AskDaveTaylor, sign up for my fun weekly newsletter!
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please enter all required fields
Correct invalid entries
No spam, ever. Promise. Powered by FeedBlitz
Please choose a color:
Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!
login with twitter, twitter security

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Recent Posts

  • Guide to Identifying and Blocking Off-Facebook Data Tracking
  • How Can I Share My Netflix Account With My Friend? [Updated for 2023]
  • How to Check Energy Recommendations on your Windows Laptop
  • How Do I Customize New Tab Windows in Safari for Mac?
  • Can AI-Generated ChatGPT Text Be Accurately Identified?

On Our YouTube Channel

How to: Replace a Switchbot Door Sensor Battery

EMEET Luna vs INNOTRIK Studio Bluetooth Speakerphones -- DEMOS & REVIEW

Categories

  • AdSense, AdWords, and PPC Help (106)
  • Amazon, eBay, and Online Shopping Help (163)
  • Android Help (226)
  • Apple iPad Help (147)
  • Apple Watch Help (53)
  • Articles, Tutorials, and Reviews (346)
  • Auto Tech Help (15)
  • Business Advice (200)
  • ChromeOS Help (31)
  • Computer & Internet Basics (779)
  • d) None of the Above (166)
  • Facebook Help (384)
  • Google, Chrome & Gmail Help (188)
  • HTML & Web Page Design (247)
  • Instagram Help (49)
  • iPhone & iOS Help (623)
  • iPod & MP3 Player Help (173)
  • Kindle & Nook Help (99)
  • LinkedIn Help (88)
  • Linux Help (173)
  • Linux Shell Script Programming (89)
  • Mac & MacOS Help (911)
  • Most Popular (16)
  • Outlook & Office 365 Help (33)
  • PayPal Help (68)
  • Pinterest Help (54)
  • Reddit Help (19)
  • SEO & Marketing (82)
  • Spam, Scams & Security (95)
  • Trade Show News & Updates (23)
  • Twitter Help (220)
  • Video Game Tips (66)
  • Web Site Traffic Tips (62)
  • Windows PC Help (947)
  • Wordpress Help (206)
  • Writing and Publishing (72)
  • YouTube Help (47)
  • YouTube Video Reviews (159)
  • Zoom, Skype & Video Chat Help (62)

Archives

Social Connections:

Ask Dave Taylor


Follow Me on Pinterest
Follow me on Twitter
Follow me on LinkedIn
Follow me on Instagram


AskDaveTaylor on Facebook



microsoft insider mvp


This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this site or on any linked site. Further, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to our terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site. Our lawyer says "Thanks for your cooperation."
© 2023 by Dave Taylor. "Ask Dave Taylor®" is a registered trademark of Intuitive Systems, LLC.
Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions - Accessibility Policy