Signal blog post on the topic, with instructions and links to join the beta: https://signal.org/blog/phone-number-privacy-usernames/
post
Awesome! I love Signal and the lack of usernames has always been one of it's bigger downsides, especially when comparing against other messaging apps.
Can LEO tie a username to a phone number?
replies:
So do I still need to provide a phone number when I sign up?
replies:
Finally!
Careful though. Maybe not as "private" as you may think... a thread from @sc00bz@infosec.exchange - https://infosec.exchange/@sc00bz/111966928032512918
I see this as both a win and a problem:
As soon as you take away a hard link to a real-life identifier, the sketchy people come out of the woodwork and spread images of child exploitation.
Signal has not had this problem like some platforms (e.g. Kik), and I suspect two reasons:
- Lack of searchable chat rooms
- Concrete link to a phone number that anyone who contacts you must know (and make it easy to identify you to authorities)
Up until now signal has been an excellent secure replacement for text messaging between parties that know each other. I hope they don’t go the “chat groups” route, though I doubt they will. But I suspect this change will make it a preferred way for abusers to exchange images and videos nearly anonymously.
replies:
all 19 comments