Signal Introduces Usernames to Enhance Privacy of Phone Numbers
Encrypted messaging platform Signal publishes usernames in chats to keep your phone number private. As a new default, the phone number is no longer visible to everyone in Signal.
“People who have your number saved in their phone contacts will still see your phone number because they already know it,” the company said in a statement.
You can now create a unique username to use instead (you still need a phone number to sign up for Signal).
“A username is not a profile name that appears in chats, is not a permanent handle, and is not visible to people you chat with on Signal. A username is simply a way to initiate contact on Signal without sharing your phone number,” the company explained.
Users can now also enable a new optional privacy setting.
“Unless people have your exact unique username, they won’t be able to start a conversation or even know you have a Signal account — even if they have your phone number,” the company said.
These options are currently in beta and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks.
According to the company, when these features are enabled, your phone number will no longer be visible in Signal to anyone using the latest version of Signal who doesn’t already have it saved in their phone’s contacts.
“We’re also introducing a setting that lets you control who can find you based on your phone number on Signal,” it added.
As last reported, Signal had 40 million active users.
