The remnant - to - terminal encrypted messaging appSignalis lend the power to confab under a username , rather than hold to share their phone number .
The need to share a phone number to colligate on Signal has often been at betting odds with its intended purpose as an app contrive with private communication in mind .
Now Signal is doing more to protect users ’ telephone figure . That will include enable people to set up a unequalled username that negate the need to share their phone number to connect with a new contact . This is different to the profile name that users can coiffe . The username can be changed as often as you wish , or erase entirely .
Ablog posttoday said : “ If you do n’t want to pass on out your speech sound number to chat with someone on Signal , you could now make a unique username that you could use alternatively .
“ Note that a username is not the profile name that ’s displayed in chats , it ’s not a permanent handle , and not visible to the people you are claver with in Signal . A username is only a way to initiate contact lens on Signal without sharing your phone number . ”
You will still need a earpiece telephone number to record with Signal , the company says , but users ’ phone numbers will also be hidden now , by nonpayment , unless the contact already has it saved in their telephone set .
“ If you utilize Signal , your phone issue will no longer be visible to everyone you natter with by nonremittal . People who have your bit save in their phone ’s contacts will still see your headphone number since they already know it , ” the post proceed .
The net change annunciate today enables drug user to control who is able to search for them in Signal by their phone figure .
“ If you do n’t want people to be able-bodied to find you by searching for your phone number on Signal , you may now enable a Modern , optional privacy setting , ” Signal add . “ This means that unless people have your exact unequalled username , they wo n’t be capable to start a conversation , or even know that you have a Signal account – even if they have your earphone identification number . ”
These changes are currently in genus Beta with plans to ramble out in the coming hebdomad .
