Keep your phone number private with Signal usernames
signal.org
Signal’s mission and sole focus is private communication. For years, Signal has kept your messages private, your profile information (like your name and profile photo) private, your contacts private, and your groups private – among much else. Now we’re taking that one step further, by making your...

Finally, we can have usernames in Signal instead of giving our phone number to everybody.

  • EveryMuffinIsNowEncryptedEnglish
    22·
    9 months ago

    Too little too late, I’m afraid.

    I would love to use Signal more, but I have it for only 1 friend. No one else I know uses it. And the fact that they don’t support SMS is I imagine a large contributing factor.

    (Yes, I know SMS is inherently insecure & unprivate, but having that support is a good way to get users’ foots in the door, and also what good is a totally secure platform if no one uses it?)

      • smileyhead@discuss.tchncs.de
        5·
        9 months ago

        In my region everyone uses Facebook Messenger. And if you don’t use it, to contant people that won’t install an app for you (like meeting you for first time), the only option is SMS.

        • Killing_Spark@feddit.de
          1·
          9 months ago

          I mean to be honest to only reason to use messengers is just costs, I wish SMS where as cheap as internet flatrates… But that might very well be a regional issue too

          • smileyhead@discuss.tchncs.de
            2·
            9 months ago

            Just cost? Absolutely no. Internet protocols are better in so many ways that phone based messaging should be obsolete for years.

            • Killing_Spark@feddit.de
              5·
              9 months ago

              Internet protocols are better in so many ways

              This is VERY debatable because statements that broad are almost always false. There is no need to have a cellular->IP->cellular bridge for 1:1 communication involving more servers, more service providers. If anyone wanted to they could implement at least the 1:1 signal protocol and probably even the messaging layer security protocol on top of SMS to get e2ee group communications.

              Nobody wants to because cell providers sell SMS for horrendous prices compared to internet access.

      • explodicle@local106.comEnglish
        2·
        9 months ago

        In hindsight it’s sad how very right he was. Now when I think “I want to send Alice a message”, I just go to the app I know will work, instead of trying to remember if Alice still uses Signal too.

      • EveryMuffinIsNowEncryptedEnglish
        1·
        9 months ago

        I genuinely appreciate that there are some people who have the benefit of a group of contacts who are willing to use it. I’m happy for you.

        Also, that’s an interesting thread. Thanks for sharing it. :)

    • sfera@beehaw.org
      5·
      9 months ago

      It’s never too late. “Back then”, when I started using Signal (called TextSecure), only one other single friend used it. Nowadays, almost all my personal contacts use it. Every additional Signal user adds a contact in someone other’s address book as a potential Signal contact. It just takes time. Good luck!