Twitter users get extra security with HTTPS

The "always use HTTPS" setting has been introduced to help stop hackers who target people as they connect over public wi-fi. The same type of technology also protects online bank accounts and electronic purchases.

Unsecured wireless connections are susceptible to certain types of hacking, such as "man-in-the-middle" attacks, where criminals intercept the data stream and monitor whatever passes through.

While switching to HTTPS on Twitter is not compulsory, most security experts say it is a good idea.

The micro-blogging site has been testing the use of HTTPS among its users for some time, however users had to access it by a slightly different address.

They can now use it automatically by changing an option in Twitter's security settings.

HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, creates a secure channel within an internet connection by checking a website's authenticity with certain approved certificate authorities.

While HTTPS offers greater protection, using the system can slow down access to a service because of the multiple round-trips required to authenticate data.

Facebook announced in January that it was to begin offering HTTPS security.

However the service has not yet been fully implemented, with many Facebook apps still operating over unsecured connections.