Signal introduces usernames and phone number privacy.
Signal introduces usernames and phone number privacy.
signal.org
Keep your phone number private with Signal usernames
93 comments
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About time!! Been waiting for this for so long. This will definitely make the usability of Signal better and it'll also be more accessible to people who wanted a Telegram like way to talk to other folks. Requiring a number to still register isn't a bad thing in my eyes though sometimes it can be frustrating so I hope that there's an option to create an account without a number. Maybe the account will have finite time before it's auto-deleted if you don't input a number some time later to ensure that this option isn't abused to all hell by bots and malicious actors alike.
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its a sensible choice because many potential implementers hae been dissuaded by the anxiety attached to risks of giving out phone number. (harrassment, stalker, spammer, scammer) . the telephone system has paralyzed itself in fear. yet we all keep buying their shit.
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Maybe the account will have finite time before it’s auto-deleted if you don’t input a number some time later to ensure that this option isn’t abused to all hell by bots and malicious actors alike
we're already banning bots, thus effectively making them time-limited. Yet we still have bots and spam on there. This sadly won't work.
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That sucks and is quite unfortunate, would've been cool to have another option other than signing up with your phone number but I suppose it's alright
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I think its great. Its for people who simply don't want to share their phone number with other people which is a huge privacy concern, as you can find out a lot about a person by looking up info connected to their phone number.
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To be fair, it has already been years
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It has kinda been a meme that it's coming for years
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Hi, "somebody" here o/
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Great news. Thank you Signal
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I'm still just so furious at Signal management for removing compatibility with other text apps. I used to be constantly growing my Signal network, now it's a slowly shrinking rump that I never add anyone to.
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Wasn't that compatibility based on SMS which is inherently insecure?
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Yes
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Right, the idea was that you could use Signal as your SMS app, and so whenever there was someone else doing the same you'd automatically upgrade to Signal. Whereas now I never have those auto-upgrades, any new contact I am just stuck on SMS with.
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On Android, it moved SMS messages from the shared SMS store upon receipt and to Signal's own database, which was more secure.
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Relevant info about the username/accountid implementation: https://fosstodon.org/@link2xt/111965597727225353
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Updated on iOS via US App Store - feature not available just yet. Looking forward to it in a few days perhaps!
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found this in the article
Right now, these options are in beta, and will be rolling out to everyone in the coming weeks.
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Same for me
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It was nice to use it in nightly. It's good it came to stable.
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Great feature, but if I'm reading it correctly, you won't be able to chat with someone anonymously (because your profile will still be shared). Are there good apps for that?
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SimpleX was the best for my purposes when I looked, but Briar is a compelling option as well.
The case can also be made for element, but it lacks forward secrecy and honestly the app kinda sucks.
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SimpleX
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jami
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Threema?
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I mean it's nice but I do not know a single pirson who uses signal
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Hi friend!
Now you do.
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Some people switched when elon asked them to. Then they went back to the meta app.
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Still register with a phone number is a red flag. I prefer SimpleX.
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omg so cool right? they finally invented usernames. IRC is jealous.
93 comments
Finally, been ages.
A number is still needed to register I believe.
Requiring a number is a good way to limit bots.
A PoW could limit bots too. Require say 30 seconds of work before your registration submits. For regular users that isnt to bad. For bots its a PITA to get tons of accounts
Edit: tor uses PoW as DDOS protection and its helped massively
Indeed, which makes their headline a bit misleading. Giving Signal your phone number is not keeping it private.
I thought peoples big problem with it was not wanting to give others their number to use signal? Like I meet Joe Blog online and don't want to give him my real number to chat.
Less people worried that signal had their number?
Wrong, it still keeps it private but not anonymous. It's not the same concept and for most thread models knowing that you use Signal is not really an issue, especially since with this feature no one can check if you have one if you don't give them your username unless they have access to Signal servers in which case they still have nothing except the knowledge that you have an account.
They do a lot of work to keep your phone number private, or at least any data that is tied to it. This username upgrade is solely for someone to communicate over Signal without needing to hand over your phone number.
For example, you can now be in group chats with internet strangers by just giving them your username.
On top of that, once MLS is adopted, you can communicate with other messengers as well.
Kinda stupid for privacy to hand over your phone number... Very counter intuitive