![Image for article titled Signal's New Usernames Will Let You Can Keep Your Phone Number Private](https://i.kinja-img.com/image/upload/c_fit,q_60,w_645/28f0a2f3ebeb53ab0cdf3bf3937d21e5.jpg)
For many who care about digital privateness, few apps are extra beloved than Signal. For years, the end-to-end encrypted messenger has supplied a number of the greatest privateness protections on the internet. Strong encryption, zero subscription charges, and nearly no data collection? What’s to not like?
That mentioned, there’s all the time been one little flaw with the messenger’s privateness protections: Until you get pretty creative, Sign forces you to disclose your actual telephone quantity once you name or textual content somebody. Because of this whoever you’re speaking with has your actual contact info—one thing that may be irritating in case you’re somebody who’d choose to maintain that info non-public.
Now, nevertheless, Sign is rectifying this concern with the introduction of usernames. In lieu of sharing your telephone quantity with somebody, you’ll be capable of share a customized deal with, as a substitute. On Tuesday, the corporate printed a blog during which it introduced the change. The submit says:
For those who don’t wish to hand out your telephone quantity to speak with somebody on Sign, now you can create a novel username that you need to use as a substitute (you’ll nonetheless want a telephone quantity to join Sign). Notice that a username shouldn’t be the profile title that’s displayed in chats, it’s not a everlasting deal with, and never seen to the folks you’re chatting with in Sign. A username is solely a solution to provoke contact on Sign with out sharing your telephone quantity.
The brand new characteristic will likely be instituted by default, that means that your contacts received’t see your quantity anymore except they’ve beforehand saved it into their contacts. That is fairly nice. Sign was already a beloved app in tech circles however this easy change will make its service that a lot better. Use it now.
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