In Signal, privacy for users should be further improved. Soon their phone numbers will no longer be visible to everyone else. Those responsible for the messenger have now announced this and announced an unusual type of user name as a replacement for contacting others. They should be able to be generated as often as you like, only be used to establish contact and not be compiled in a central database. At the same time, other users’ phone numbers are only displayed if they are in your own address book. In addition, you will now be able to set that no one can find you using your phone number.
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Names only for contact purposes
The new usernames
(Image: Signal)
While this significantly improves control over the sharing of phone numbers, Signal takes an unusual approach with user names. These are not the profile names. After the function is introduced, you can use this to contact us without having to give out your cell phone number. To do this, a user name must be generated in the settings under “Profile” that is unique and ends in two digits. It can then be passed on.
As soon as you accept an attempt to contact using such a username, the profile information becomes visible to the other party. This no longer includes the telephone number – if you don’t already have it, you won’t get it via Signal. User names can be changed as often as you like, for example for publication at a conference, and can also be deleted completely. There is no searchable database. Also because attempts at abuse are conceivable, advises Signal to verify identity in person or through another channel using the security numbers that each chat has.
The changes now introduced for beta testers will be made available to all users in the coming weeks. Even if the phone number can now be hidden there, it is still required for registration. This was a problem for people and organizations that place particular value on privacy and is different for its competitor Threema. It can be used without a phone number, for example on devices without a SIM card. Signal has been testing the changes for months and now explains the changes in a detailed blog entry. It also states that they are all optional. The new default settings can be reset again.
(mho)