Signal Tests Sharing Public Usernames in Place of Phone Numbers

[MacRumors]

Encrypted messaging app Signal has announced it is testing public account usernames so that users don't have to share their phone number to connect through the service.

Currently, signing up to Signal requires that you share your phone number with other users when connecting with them. While the new method still requires an account to be associated with a number during setup, it is not subsequently shared when contacting other users, making the communication even more private and secure.

According to Signal VP of engineering Jim O'Leary, the username test is currently limited to a separate build in the platform's Staging Environment and remains "pre-beta," so it may cause crashes and other bugs to occur since it fundamentally changes the way that accounts are identified in the Signal ecosystem.

Users who install the build will be able to share their usernames via a QR code or a link, allowing them to use it as a way for others to contact them, no phone number required. There is also an option to turn off phone number discovery in the app under Settings ➝ Privacy ➝ Phone number ➝ Who can find my number.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1722349114304708669

Signal has been working on usernames since at least 2019, but it is not known when the feature will be ready for primetime. Using the pre-beta build on desktop and iOS today requires some technical knowhow involving code compiling, more information about which can be found in the Signal forums.

Article Link: Signal Tests Sharing Public Usernames in Place of Phone Numbers

 

[soyazul]

The Apple of all chat apps, and the one that any other app copies all the features from is Telegram.

 

[Apple_Robert]

This feature wouldn’t be useful to me but, nice to see more privacy. I use the app to contact my employees and like it a lot.

 

[tomnavratil]

One of the best messaging apps out there especially when it comes to privacy and security. This will help with anonymity as well, which was certainly one of the drawbacks for wider adoption.

 

[Bustycat]

An IM app caring about privacy finally cares about privacy.

 

[H00513R]

I tried getting family members into using Signal, but they just didn’t care. iMessage was good enough. So I gave up and haven’t used it since.

 

[nealibob]

Hopefully this means we'll eventually be able to use the same Signal account on multiple phones. This is a huge limitation compared to most other messaging platforms.

 

[AppleTO]

Oh wow, I’ve never used Signal but I certainly wouldn’t if sharing real phone numbers was required.

 

[kalafalas]

I absolutely love signal, so happy to see them keep working on it!

 

[tomnavratil]

Oh wow, I’ve never used Signal but I certainly wouldn’t if sharing real phone numbers was required.

Obviously depending on your threat model, you could use a burner number and many people do. Or switch to something like Session or Matrix protocol. However for most users it wasn't an issue. Also privacy != anonymity.

 

[SW3029]

Baffled why more people don't use Signal. It's even more secure than iMessage – not to mention Messenger or WhatsApp.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Baffled why more people don't use Signal. It's even more secure than iMessage – not to mention Messenger or WhatsApp.

They're equally "secure" in that everything is E2E encrypted. Signal has self destruct messaging and hides metadata (which Apple doesn't collect anyway) which would be classified more as features than security.

People don't use it because they have to get everyone they want to connect with on it. Where iMessage is already there and ready to go for all iPhone users.

 

[ksnell]

They're equally "secure" in that everything is E2E encrypted. Signal has self destruct messaging and hides metadata (which Apple doesn't collect anyway) which would be classified more as features than security.

People don't use it because they have to get everyone they want to connect with on it. Where iMessage is already there and ready to go for all iPhone users.

My understanding is iMessages only meet Signal's security if Advanced Data Protection is enabled on both ends of the conversation (or if iCloud Backups are turned off).

"Standard Protection" means Apple owns the keys to your iCloud Backups which includes your iMessage conversations, and so could be hacked or compelled to retrieve them.

iCloud data security overview - Apple Support

 

[toobravetosave]

Baffled why more people don't use Signal. It's even more secure than iMessage – not to mention Messenger or WhatsApp.

I don't need anything fancy to send a dog picture

 

[supremedesigner]

I like Signal ONLY for texting Android friends. Other than that, iMessage is the way to go.

 

[bluecoast]

This will make a great product even better - and it should drive up usage.

Having it linked to your phone number, meant that it was just a more secure cross platform iMessage - that hardly anyone used.

 

[blazerunner]

I tried getting family members into using Signal, but they just didn’t care. iMessage was good enough. So I gave up and haven’t used it since.

Apple's doing, not your family's. They want exactly this situation to happen across the world.

 

[JosephAW]

We still know the conversations are being monitored.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

good! I'm tired of having to share my phone number with people I dont know sometimes. privacy matters and more apps ought to have this

 

[gsurf123]

I tried getting family members into using Signal, but they just didn’t care. iMessage was good enough. So I gave up and haven’t used it since.

No regular user has any use for other messaging services. iMessage does more than enough and most like being able to easily identify Android users.

 

[JippaLippa]

That's an excellent idea!

 

[Wanted797]

I love signal but I have only one very small pet peeve and that’s how it does the “uploading” bar and screen when you share a photo or video.

No other app makes you wait for that screen/or hide it in UI.

 

[814MB]

I tried getting family members into using Signal, but they just didn’t care. iMessage was good enough. So I gave up and haven’t used it since.

Same ☹️

 

[814MB]

Baffled why more people don't use Signal. It's even more secure than iMessage – not to mention Messenger or WhatsApp.

Because you’re average person doesn’t care about digital privacy

 

[SpotOnT]

Hopefully this means we'll eventually be able to use the same Signal account on multiple phones. This is a huge limitation compared to most other messaging platforms.

Yes this! Being tied to one phone is my biggest problem with Signal. My single biggest problem.