<P> A security vulnerability was reported on April 7, 2007, by Nitesh Dhanjani and Rujith . Since Twitter used the phone number of the sender of an SMS message as authentication, malicious users could update someone else's status page by using SMS spoofing . The vulnerability could be used if the spoofer knew the phone number registered to their victim's account . Within a few weeks of this discovery, Twitter introduced an optional personal identification number (PIN) that its users could use to authenticate their SMS - originating messages . </P> <P> On January 5, 2009, 33 high - profile Twitter accounts were compromised after a Twitter administrator's password was guessed by a dictionary attack . Falsified tweets--including sexually explicit and drug - related messages--were sent from these accounts . </P> <P> Twitter launched the beta version of their "Verified Accounts" service on June 11, 2009, allowing famous or notable people to announce their account name . The home pages of these accounts display a badge indicating their status . </P> <P> In May 2010, a bug was discovered by İnci Sözlük that could allow a Twitter user to force others to follow them without the other users' consent or knowledge . For example, comedian Conan O'Brien's account, which had been set to follow only one person, was changed to receive nearly 200 malicious subscriptions . </P>

Where did the idea of twitter come from