Signal Finally Rolls Out Usernames, So You Can Keep Your Phone Number Private

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We tested the end-to-end encrypted messenger’s new feature aimed at addressing critics’ most persistent complaint. Here’s how it works.

Today, Signal launched the rollout in beta of a long-awaited set of features it's describing simply as “phone number privacy.” Those features, which WIRED has tested, are designed to allow users to conceal their phone numbers as they communicate on the app and instead share a username as a less-sensitive method of connecting with one another.

To avoid storing even those usernames, Signal is also using a cryptographic function called a Ristretto hash, which allows it to instead store a list of unique strings of characters that encode those handles. Amid these new features designed to calibrate exactly who can learn your phone number, however, one key role for that number hasn't changed: There's still no way to avoid sharing your phone number with Signal itself when you register.

 

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