Now that we can create and delete usernames at will, do people have any concerns about giving people they meet their Signal ID? I have no fears of it. In fact, my Signal is oozic.35 if anyone wanta to message me.
I just sold your ID on the dark web hope that’s ok
That’s funny, good one.
I wouldn’t just give to any random stranger without them even requesting it, because why would I? But if I met someone, I probably would have given them my phone number anyway. What’s insecure about that? I can always block them.
Because they might give your phone number to someone else, and then you don’t have any more control over who has your personal information. That’s how I look at it at least.
I can see someone who is in a very sensitive situation, like trying to escape domestic abuse, or starting a protest, might want the anonymity but still need the communication.
I fully agree about blocking. Giving someone your phone number is not as scary as the internet portrays it to be. In fact, people are hypocritcal, because they will give their number to a business where mutiple real people can access their info, but if they give their number to a person, they delusionally think stalker, harasser. People think way too much of themself. If I have a person’s name and phone number, if I don’t speak to them, I will get rid of their number. People don’t care about getting a random number as much as the internet portrays it.
I have personally tracked down people online by just their phone number. OSINT is a super fun challenge. I do recommend you try it.
That woild make for good info sec. I would be curious to test how it does for numbers that are not a cell number, and anonymously paid numbers. I can get my wn number without a name for that phone number and pay for the phone service with crypto and cash.
That depends on how you use the number. If you sign up for services that sell that data, then starting with a private number is irrelevant. If you keep that number on lock, then it wouldn’t be possible for Joe Shmoe like me to track it.
I was wondering, does anyone know whether usernames are single use? As they can be created and disposed of at will, it feels like a loophole for phishing if someone else can claim a “no longer in use” username? I’m talking about someone using someone else’s previous username.
Also the number at the end of the account name is randomly generated. So it would take a few attempts to get the username you want.
You can manually edit the number.
I suppose that’s why you can accept the message or not. I believe they can be reused.
If you delete your username, yes, potentially someone else could use it. The upside of that is if your username gets reported after it’s deleted, it can’t be tied to anyone if it’s not in use. The Signal service won’t have a record since users can create and delete names at will, delete one, create a different one. It provides more anonimity due ro temporary usernames.
I don’t have any particular concerns. I also have no particular need or desire to. I really only use Signal in place of SMS for friends and family.
I have given names to people on the Internet and changed names after our conversation was finished. I think that is much better than giving someone a phone number and much easier to change.
I do fully agree with you. It’s easier to delete a username. My point was for giing someone your phone number, random people don’t obsess over it the way the fear is hyped up about giving someone a phone number. People freely given a phone number to a business, for people to use that number, but terried to give it to a person, that’s a contradiction.
I believe hype about the fear of giving a number is a reflection of that person’s social dysfunction along with callousness. If someone says they are scared to give someone on the street their phone number, whom they can block, that is a reflection of their delusional self-aggrandizing narcissism.
I don’t disagree with you either. But I think that when people give their phone number to a business they are often unaware of all of the nefarious ways it will be used, whether by ignorance or deception.
My point is just that replaceable usernames are perfect for random people you meet IRL or on the Internet because it’s minimal trouble to disconnect permanently when the time comes.
I fully agree, except about when it’s time to disconnect, that sounds like you go into every interaction expecting a ime that you will ultimatey cut that person out of your life. Or you go into every situation assiming at some point you will have nothing to do with someone. That’s a self fulfilling mindset.
Those are the particular interactions for which I have used usernames. People I know have me in contacts. Also, iirc, if I change usernames in the middle of a conversation that conversation is able to continue until I delete it. Plenty of time to pass on a new name if desired.
It’s easier to replace than an email, but I’m not sharing it willy nilly; only with people I want to talk to. I do hope journalists will use it though.
Signal is psyop. Check their board members, current and previous job positions
Removed by mod
You soend too much time on the internet and not enough time developing skills and ad abilities that will behoove in the decades ahead.
/s or serious? You’ve just triggered Poe’s law.