Usernames are now rolling out to everyone using Signal version 7.0!

mastodon.world Signal (@signalapp@mastodon.world)

Phone number privacy and usernames are now rolling out to everyone using Signal version 7.0! Update your app to take advantage of these new features 🎇 https://signal.org/blog/phone-number-privacy-usernames/

62 comments

This could be a helpful thing, as I know I don't always like sharing my Phone Number with people.

I don't understand the hype; how many people are chatting with people they don't know on Signal?
- With usernames now it would be a better option. Before you had to share your phone number and hence your name
  
  You'd still share your name, no? As far as I understand it, these usernames only serve to get in contact, nothing more
- That was exactly my first thought. Might be something for various underground groups, but the normal use case seems to be just regular communication among friends & family.
- For me it can replace DMs everywhere. Put your username in your profile and get actually secure DMs.
  
  But wouldn't that just put you at risk of spam and other malicious messages?
  
  Wasn't this what Matrix was for?
- I'm going to put a UN or QR code on my website for another form of tech support. (Think of WhatsApp numbers)

Telegram had this for a long time. Why is Signal always behind on privacy features?
- Telegram is only slightly more private than Facebook Messenger. Not only can they link a username to a phone number, but they can link a phone number to a username too.
  Meanwhile, Signal did it right.
  And that's before we start talking about all the problems made in Telegram, from rolling their own encryption to telling their users not to use it.
- Does Telegram still not have end-to-end encrypted group chat?
  
  No, and (I really can't stress this enough) they really want their unpaid interns to tell you to stop asking for it.
  
  Is there a purpose for such chats? Even if they are non-public as long as they have more than 1 people someone will leak your messages if they wanted. Same as in public chats.
- Telegram doesn’t have this to such an extent. If someone has your number in their contacts and you join Telegram they see you whether you want it or not. Signal (now) hides that too.
- This is a fairly easy answer. Signal refuses to take shortcuts that others are happy to use.
  You may find this virtuous, but I'll argue that it isn't.
  It's much better to start by having windows that don't lock than to keep holes in your walls all year while waiting for windows that are insulated, lockable and can be cleaned from the inside.
  Signal leaves the holes until they finish the insulated window that also creates electricity.
  @turkishdelight
  @celmit
  
  I agree 100% with what you said.
  
  Can you name some shortcuts that Telegram uses, but Signal doesn't?
- I would say Signal should not be slow on the things they are proud the most. SimpleX still better on this.
  
  Signal sill implemented better than any other. They can’t link your username to phone number, the others can. So maybe other are faster on a superficial level, but the implementation is trash.
  
  Try putting a Signal username and a SimpleX username in the same bio and see which one fits 😉
- Honest question, are you still using Telegram after all the recent news following Durov's arrest? Do you view the service differently?

62 comments