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End - to - end encrypted messaging app , Signal , is become near to launching a much anticipated feature that will allow users to share only a username in purchase order to connect with other users , rather than birth to reveal the phone number linked to their account , as is the case now .
Other unassailable messaging platform , such asTelegramandWire , have had the feature for years ( literally almost a decade in Telegram ’s slip ! ) . But despite its gilded stock reputation for strong security , Signal has taken its time on add the seclusion - witting power to connect via a username and not have to reveal your earphone number .
It has been working internally on adding the feature film for a while . But , per a substance on theSignal Community web log , it looks to be entering the final stretch before a public launch as it ’s now inviting drug user to test the feature in a Staging surround ( which requires establish a separate test app ) .
“ After rounds of internal testing , we have hit the point where we cogitate the residential district that powers these forums can help us test even further before public launching , ” it writes . “ Once you ’re registered and launch the [ Staging ] app , please sail intoSettings / ProfileandSettings / Privacy / Phone Numberto research the unexampled functionality available in these builds . Please test make usernames , share username tie , qualify the share-out configurations for your phone routine , and invite mass to groups by username and by earphone phone number alike . ”
At anevent in Bangalore , India , last calendar month , Signal Chief Executive Meredith Whittaker also said the username feature “ should launch in early 2024 “ .
Signal is asking test guinea pigs that download its Staging app to report crashes and share debug logarithm as it works on merchant marine usernames .
“ These early material body are designed to proactively break apart if it appear that anything has lead wrong under the hood , since we ’re changing the fundamental direction that account are identified in the Signal ecosystem , ” it writes on its community meeting place . “ We make love that there are some rough edges in the UX at the moment , as you might expect with pre - beta software , so you ’re welcome to mention issues you observe in the UX , but we may already be cognisant of many of them . ”
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It add together that it ’s expecting to update the builds day by day vs the common weekly measure for its public beta .
There ’s lots of reasons why someone using a message app might need to chat with another user digitally without handing over their earphone numeral . mayhap it ’s a person they just come across and are still sounding out to settle whether they ’re trusty . Or they might require to open up a professional communications line with a contact but not desire to hand over their personal data as well .
telephone set numbers not only link straight to the gimmick in your pocket , they are often linked to other account so can be of interest to hackers and identity thieves . Sharing few pieces of personal data is good security practice , as well as being better for secrecy .
“ Usernames will make it potential to communicate with anyone on Signal without apportion your telephone set number . So that will furnish a level of concealment on the gimmick — which will be really important , ” assert Whittaker last month .
She added that the feature film has taken a while to add because “ it ’s actually a major architectural service ” .
