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Scrape Timestamp (UTC): 2024-02-21 07:18:36.044
Source: https://thehackernews.com/2024/02/signal-introduces-usernames-allowing.html
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Signal Introduces Usernames, Allowing Users to Keep Their Phone Numbers Private. End-to-end encrypted (E2EE) messaging app Signal said it's piloting a new feature that allows users to create unique usernames (not to be confused with profile names) and keep the phone numbers away from prying eyes. "If you use Signal, your phone number will no longer be visible to everyone you chat with by default," Signal's Randall Sarafa said. "People who have your number saved in their phone's contacts will still see your phone number since they already know it." Setting a new username requires account holders to provide two or more numbers at the end of it (e.g., axolotl.99) in an effort to keep them "egalitarian and minimize spoofing." Usernames can be changed any number of times, but it's worth noting that they are not logins or handles. Put differently, a username is an anonymous way to initiate conversations on the chat platform without having to share phone numbers. The feature is opt-in, although Signal said it's also taking steps to hide by default users' phone numbers from others who do not have them saved in their phone's contacts. In addition, users can control who can find them by their numbers using another setting, restricting people from messaging them even if they are in possession of the phone numbers. Both these options can be toggled via the following steps - "Your phone number will no longer be visible to people you chat with on Signal, unless they have it in their phone's contacts," Sarafa said. "You will also be able to configure a new privacy setting to limit who can find you by your phone number on Signal." ⚡ Free Risk Assessment from Vanta Generate a gap assessment of your security and compliance posture, discover shadow IT, and more.
Daily Brief Summary
Signal, the encrypted messaging app, has introduced a feature for creating unique usernames, enhancing user privacy by allowing individuals to communicate without sharing their phone numbers.
This measure is a response to privacy concerns, ensuring that a user's phone number will no longer be automatically visible to everyone they chat with.
Contacts who already have a user's phone number saved will continue to see it, maintaining convenience for known connections.
To further reduce the risk of impersonation, usernames require the inclusion of two or more digits at the end and can be changed multiple times if desired.
Signal is making the visibility of phone numbers an opt-in feature, going a step further to conceal them by default from those not saved in a user's contacts list.
Additionally, Signal has introduced a privacy setting that allows users to control who can find them by their phone number within the app, restricting unsolicited messages.
These updates are part of Signal's ongoing efforts to provide secure, private communication options for its users in an increasingly security-conscious digital landscape.