The end-to-end encrypted secure messaging app Signal is moving closer to launching a long anticipated feature that will enable users to disclose only a username in order to connect with other users. Currently, in order to connect with other Signal users, users are required to give the phone number that is attached to their account. With the launch of this much anticipated feature, Signal users will only be need to reveal their username.
Other encrypted messaging platforms, such as Telegram and Wire, have had the feature for many years (in the case of Telegram, it has literally been available for almost a decade!). But despite its reputation as the gold standard for solid security, Signal has been slow to introduce the privacy-conscious capability to join by a username rather than having to provide your phone number. This is because Signal values your anonymity.
Secure messaging app signal has been working on the functionality internally for some time now in preparation for implementing it. However, according to a post on the Signal Community blog, it appears to be entering the final run before a public debut because it is now encouraging users to test the functionality in a Staging environment (which requires installing a separate test app). This indicates that it is likely entering the final stretch before a public launch.
“After rounds of internal testing, we have hit the point where we think the community that powers these forums can help us test even further before the public launch,” it writes. “Once you have registered for the [Staging] app and are using it, please visit to Settings > Profile and Settings > Privacy > Phone Number to investigate the additional features that are included in these releases. Please test the creation of usernames, the sharing of username links, the modification of the sharing settings for your phone number, and the invitation of others to groups by both their username and their phone number.”
Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal, stated that the username functionality “should launch in early 2024″ while speaking at an event that took place one month ago in Bangalore, India.
As Signal works on delivering usernames, the company is requesting that test guinea pigs who download its Staging app report any errors and provide any debug logs they find.
According to a post made on the company’s community site, “These early builds are designed to proactively crash if it appears that anything has gone wrong under the hood.” This is because “we’re changing the fundamental way that accounts are identified in the Signal ecosystem,” which is the company’s explanation for why these crashes would occur in early builds. “We are aware that the user experience (UX) at the moment has some rough edges, which is to be expected with pre-beta software; therefore, you are more than welcome to note any issues you find in the UX; however, we may already be aware of many of those issues.”
Additionally, it mentions that it intends to update the builds on a daily basis, as opposed to the typical weekly cycle for its public betas.
There are many different scenarios in which a user of a messaging app could desire to engage in a digital conversation with another user without disclosing their phone number. Maybe it’s someone they’ve just recently met, and they’re still gathering information to determine whether or not they can be trusted. Another possibility is that they want to initiate professional conversation with a contact but do not like to provide any of their personal information at the same time.
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Phone numbers not only connect directly to the gadget that you have in your pocket, but they also frequently connect to other accounts, which means that hackers and identity thieves may be interested in them. Sharing fewer individual pieces of personal information is not only beneficial for one’s privacy but also for their overall security.
“With the help of user names, it will be possible to communicate with anyone on Signal without having to reveal your phone number.” According to what Whittaker stated a month ago, this will ensure a certain degree of confidentiality on the gadget, which will be of utmost importance.
She also mentioned that the addition of the feature took some time due to the fact that “it’s actually a major architectural overhaul.”
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