Signal will soon hide your phone number by default. Instead of phone numbers, users will be identified by unique usernames, Signal announced on Tuesday.
Currently, phone numbers are the only way to find and connect with anyone on Signal. Soon, the only way to do so would be with usernames — unless you have the phone number of the person you’re trying to chat with. Even then, users can choose not to be found on Signal with their phone numbers.
These new settings will improve privacy on Signal by keeping users’ phone numbers from everyone they’ve not shared it with. It will be particularly useful for high-profile individuals, people in high-risk situations, and anyone who wishes to stay anonymous on Signal.
“So we’re extremely sympathetic to people who might be using Signal in high-risk environments who say, ‘The phone number is really sensitive information, and I don’t feel comfortable having that disseminated broadly,” Signal’s president Meredith Whittaker told WIRED.
Signal’s new privacy options are already available in beta and will be rolled out to the public in the coming weeks.
More Privacy on Signal
Until now, the biggest privacy issue on Signal was that users’ phone numbers are visible to everyone. This update changes that and gives Signal users more control over their privacy.
“For years, Signal has kept your messages private, your profile information (like your name and profile photo) private, your contacts private, and your groups private – among much else. Now we’re taking that one step further, by making your phone number on Signal more private,” Signal said in a blog post on Tuesday.
With this update, unless you know someone’s exact Signal username, you can’t start a conversation with them or even check if they have a Signal account.
Interestingly, Signal usernames are different from the profile names displayed in chats — they will not be visible to other users on Signal. Users can change their Signal usernames without restrictions.
“For example, you can make a username to connect with people at a conference or to plan a group trip. Then, when it’s over, change it if you want to,” Signal explained.
Signal users can even generate and share a QR code or unique URL that directs people to their usernames, creating a quick way to connect with others.
How to Set Up Signal’s New Privacy Features
Once Signal rolls out the new settings, creating a username or hiding your phone number will only take a few clicks.
To create a Signal username, click Settings > Profile and follow the prompts. “A username on Signal (unlike a profile name) must be unique and must have two or more numbers at the end of it; a choice intended to help keep usernames egalitarian and minimize spoofing,” Signal explained.
To hide your phone number on Signal, click Settings > Privacy > Phone Number > Who can see my number. You can make your number visible to “Everyone,” “Nobody,” or only your contacts.
To test these new privacy options, head to Signal’s instructions page to learn how to set up Signal Beta on Android and desktop. Unfortunately, Signal Beta for iOS beta is now closed.
Are you curious about the differences between WhatsApp and Signal? Check out our comparison of Signal vs WhatsApp.
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