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Signal Blog: Keep your phone number private with Signal usernames (signal.org)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Finally, we can have usernames in Signal instead of giving our phone number to everybody.

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (3 children)

Too little too late, I'm afraid.

I would love to use Signal more, but I have it for only 1 friend. No one else I know uses it. And the fact that they don't support SMS is I imagine a large contributing factor.

(Yes, I know SMS is inherently insecure & unprivate, but having that support is a good way to get users' foots in the door, and also what good is a totally secure platform if no one uses it?)

[–] [email protected] 11 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Is this a regional thing? I don't know anyone that actually uses SMS anymore

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

In my region everyone uses Facebook Messenger. And if you don't use it, to contant people that won't install an app for you (like meeting you for first time), the only option is SMS.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I mean to be honest to only reason to use messengers is just costs, I wish SMS where as cheap as internet flatrates... But that might very well be a regional issue too

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Just cost? Absolutely no. Internet protocols are better in so many ways that phone based messaging should be obsolete for years.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

Internet protocols are better in so many ways

This is VERY debatable because statements that broad are almost always false. There is no need to have a cellular->IP->cellular bridge for 1:1 communication involving more servers, more service providers. If anyone wanted to they could implement at least the 1:1 signal protocol and probably even the messaging layer security protocol on top of SMS to get e2ee group communications.

Nobody wants to because cell providers sell SMS for horrendous prices compared to internet access.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

I still luckily have a nice group of friends using Signal but I agree that dropping SMS support was a mistake. There was a good issue explaining why dropping SMS support was bad on their GitHub: https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/issues/12560

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

In hindsight it's sad how very right he was. Now when I think "I want to send Alice a message", I just go to the app I know will work, instead of trying to remember if Alice still uses Signal too.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

I genuinely appreciate that there are some people who have the benefit of a group of contacts who are willing to use it. I'm happy for you.

Also, that's an interesting thread. Thanks for sharing it. :)

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

It's never too late. "Back then", when I started using Signal (called TextSecure), only one other single friend used it. Nowadays, almost all my personal contacts use it. Every additional Signal user adds a contact in someone other's address book as a potential Signal contact. It just takes time. Good luck!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Okay, then, let me reiterate, for now it seems to be too little too late.

And thank you.