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You can change your number

signal.org

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Re: You can change your number

#161

Post by mlissner »

jessriedel wrote: post #25
stavros wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This shows a single check mark, no? Ie it tells you that the user hasn't received the message.

Yea, it seems like this is the most information they could give you without violating the addressee's privacy by revealing whether they have uninstalled the app. I suppose it could be worth it if, when the message remains undelivered for a while, Signal added an explicit note to that effect so the sender doesn't misunderstand.

Yes, exactly this. All that's needed is to tell senders when a message wasn't received after X hours.

You don't have to figure out if the user uninstalled. This also happens if they get a new phone and don't re-install on it, so relying on uninstalls wouldn't work anyway.

Re: You can change your number

#162

Post by pomian »

scotty79 wrote: post #67

Why would supposedly secure communicator use actual phone number as identifier is beyond me. And everybody does that, either phone number or email. The only software I could find for anonymous communication was old Polish communicator http://gg.pl which uses arbitrary numbers as identifiers I understand that startups are scared that they won't be able to build up userbase from scratch but come on! Discord and Slack d…

That looks like a great app. Thanks. Can you send SMS to a regular number with this?

Re: You can change your number

#163

Post by brimble »

theamk wrote: post #54
tptacek wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're great compared to the alternative of simply storing a plaintext register of every pair of communicating parties on the server, which is how other messengers work. What's "good" about phone numbers is that they're tied clientside to a "buddy list" that everyone already keeps --- their contact list. They don't want phone numbers on the merits of phone numbers.

This decision seems pretty crazy to me, especially on the cell phones where a lot of apps require phone book access to function, and there is generally no way to give a different view to different apps. I understand that Signal wants to be blame it all on users, but the practical consequence of their design is that the moment people want to talk to a single person on Whatsapp, they give out Signal contact list to Fac…

Wait—when you're using Signal, it resorts to using your whole-phone contact list when, say, you want send a direct message? That would be... not great UX, with my personal use of my phone contact list (mostly for people I barely ever message, contacts I'd never message but want to have a phone number and/or address down, or relatives who don't/can't use anything but SMS)

Re: You can change your number

#164

Post by pomian »

rcarback wrote: post #136

It is early stage, but there is now an alternative to Signal that doesn't use phone numbers at all: https://xx.network/messenger/ While you can add your number to be searchable by others, it doesn't let strangers with your number know you signed up automatically, either. Full disclosure: I work on the infrastructure behind it.

Can you use this to send texts via SMS to regular phone numbers? How does this differ from Linphone?

Re: You can change your number

#166

Post by godelski »

scotty79 wrote: post #144
palata wrote: post #127

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Two words: threat model.

I don't get it. I find my interlocutor knowing my phone number a severe threat to my privacy.

You're confusing privacy with anonymity. Privacy is people not being able to read what you are writing. Anonymity is being... anonymous, unknown. Signal is keeping your conversations private but they are not keeping your account anonymous.

Re: You can change your number

#167

Post by wolverine876 »

rcarback wrote: post #136

It is early stage, but there is now an alternative to Signal that doesn't use phone numbers at all: https://xx.network/messenger/ While you can add your number to be searchable by others, it doesn't let strangers with your number know you signed up automatically, either. Full disclosure: I work on the infrastructure behind it.

We see many apps that promise to be secure. With due respect, why would someone trust this one?

Re: You can change your number

#168

Post by c1yd3i »

toastercup wrote: post #115
advisedwang wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you explain this a bit more? Am I correct in understanding that you feel it hurts you when your contacts find out that you have signal installed, hence why signal shouldn't do it? What is the impact of someone who has your phone number knowing you are available over Signal? Are there communities out there where someone being on signal is a red flag?

There are subcultures that are not widely accepted where this is an issue. Take the furry subculture as an example. You might not want your family or college pals to see your furry profile picture and pseudonym, but you also might not be aware of the implications of using a messaging service where the primary ID is your phone number. Many people hand out their phone numbers permissively, as historically, they weren't…

No post body was provided.

Re: You can change your number

#169

Post by scotty79 »

godelski wrote: post #166
scotty79 wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't get it. I find my interlocutor knowing my phone number a severe threat to my privacy.

You're confusing privacy with anonymity. Privacy is people not being able to read what you are writing. Anonymity is being... anonymous, unknown. Signal is keeping your conversations private but they are not keeping your account anonymous.

My anonimity is huge contributing factor to my sense of privacy.

I don't care if you seen my dick if you have no way of knowing it was mine.

Re: You can change your number

#170

Post by godelski »

rcarback wrote: post #136

It is early stage, but there is now an alternative to Signal that doesn't use phone numbers at all: https://xx.network/messenger/ While you can add your number to be searchable by others, it doesn't let strangers with your number know you signed up automatically, either. Full disclosure: I work on the infrastructure behind it.

How is this handling usernames? I understand doing this is actually hard if you want them to replace the issues that are carried with phone numbers (i.e. being able to connect with an identity through cross referencing). And of course, birthday problems.
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