Facebook policy change means billions will lose major feature – check app to find out how you’re affected

FACEBOOK has plans to remove its code generator from its app, social media users have reported.

If you logged onto your Facebook app recently, you may have seen an interesting notification pop up on your device.

The message warns users that Facebook's code generator is "going away soon."

"Make sure that you have another two-factor authentication method so that you don't lose access to your account," the message continued.

WHAT IS TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION?

Most smartphone users rely on two-factor authentication, also known as 2FA, for securing their online accounts.

2FA protects your accounts by requiring an extra level of verification before logging in – such as a text confirmation.

And while this is a better level of security than just a lengthy password, sometimes hackers can get access to your SMS messages.

For this reason, many apps have their own built-in 2FA like Google, Apple, and Facebook.

Now, it seems that Facebook is disabling its code generator for its 2FA services, potentially leaving users more vulnerable to data breaches.

The move follows Twitter, which revealed last month that it would disable SMS-based two-factor authentication (2FA) for all users except Twitter Blue subscribers.

Execs at Twitter backed their decision by calling SMS-based 2FA vulnerable.

"Unfortunately, we have seen phone-number-based 2FA be used - and abused - by bad actors," they said.

Many cybersecurity experts and users did not agree with the sentiment.

In Facebook's case, users have expressed their frustration over the new change on social media.