Messaging app Signal finally rolls out usernames in beta, letting users conceal their phone numbers; Signal still requires inputting a phone number to register
We tested the end-to-end encrypted messenger's new feature aimed at addressing critics' most persistent complaint. Here's how it works.
Signal users in the beta can share a username rather than expose the phone number tied to their account to people they contact.
Signal retains phone-number registration, so the change limits peer-to-peer disclosure rather than removing phone numbers from account setup.
Second-order effects
The split between registration identity and public contact identity gives Signal a more privacy-preserving onboarding and sharing path, while keeping its existing account model intact.
Messaging rivals evaluating usernames face a clearer competitive expectation: users may compare whether a service can support contact discovery without requiring number exchange.
Third-order effects
If widely adopted, usernames could make phone numbers less central to how messaging identities are presented to other users, even where they remain an account-registration credential.
The pattern points to privacy features being judged not only by encryption but also by how much identifying information users must reveal to initiate a conversation.
The trend: Encrypted messaging services are separating account verification from the identity users expose to new contacts.
Introducing usernames and phone number privacy on Signal! We're making it possible for people to connect with each other without having to share phone numbers. Now launching to beta users, available for everyone soon. https://signal.org/...
A Signal username isn't the profile name that's displayed in chats, and isn't visible to the people you chat with on Signal. A username is simply a way to initiate contact on Signal without having to share your phone number. (You still need a phone number to sign up for Signal.)
TIL (thanks to @str4d) that Signal's username feature is built on top of cryptography work I did a few years back. When you publish low-level work it can feel like you're putting ripples out into the void. It's really nice to see how they reverberate :) https://www.wired.com/...
1/ Not having a “strong” identifier in Signal is an important step for privacy. It also highlights the importance of IM E2EE identifiers: the user and device public keys. More over, to verify other party's public key, users need to use 3rd party channel which hinders privacy [ima…
Signal has finally introduced usernames so you can use it without giving out your phone number. This is the number one feature I have seen prevent people from using Signal for many years and I'm happy it's here! https://signal.org/...
AWESOME: @signalapp just launched usernames! Benefit: Keep your phone # private when connecting. Learn more: https://signal.org/... (Vid via Signal) [video]
IT IS HAPPENING! Today, Signal launches phone number privacy & usernames! These features let you use Signal w/o sharing your phone number with the people you talk to Proud to add more privacy to Signal, & proud of the smart, careful work the team did to make this happen ♥️
Signal just dropped the beta version of Usernames - you no longer need to reveal your phone number when talking to your friends. The announcement also mentions some unusual privacy guarantees around usernames. How does this work under the hood? Let's take a look! [image]
Signal is rolling out usernames soon. Sharing of phone numbers won't be necessary. Caveat: “both you and the people you are chatting with on Signal will need to be using the most updated version”. They are also disposable. Change=stop being findable. https://signal.org/... [image…
My main concern with Signal usernames was that people who get impersonated/targeted a lot (like journalists) would be in a race with squatters to get their username first. This might help that, a little bit https://signal.org/... [image]
1. New default: Your phone number will no longer be visible in Signal 2. You can create an optional username to connect without sharing your phone number 3. You can enable a new, optional privacy setting to require people to connect with you via username instead of phone number
Problem: usernames, squatting, fairness Crypto: build dutch auction protocol for spending unique name tokens to allocate scarce usernames. Add staking and slashing mechanism to discourage squatters... etc. Signal: all usernames will have goofy boomer numbers. Brilliant. [image]
You can sign up for beta to test these features. Note that Apple caps the number of iOS beta testers, and we have reached that limit. If you use Signal on iOS, you can get around this by signing up for Desktop beta, linked to your iOS account. See more: https://support.signal.org…
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