My dear friends from the US.

the elder sea

@katlin @jwildeboer @simotranquilli it's effectively not possible at this point. A phone number is required. I read an article where someone did it by finding a pay phone that accepts incoming calls, and it did work, but this is such a fringe case it's only proving it's technically possible. Usernames are great for not sharing your number, but signal is still tied to a phone number.

katlin

@eldersea @jwildeboer @simotranquilli

Thanks for the answer, that's what I originally thought, but then I read from the OP in the above thread that it was possible and wondered if I had missed something, since I haven't been keeping up with all the latest changes.

the elder sea

@katlin @jwildeboer @simotranquilli it may be possible to buy a prepaid sim card with cash, register with that, set up a username, and go from there. I don't know if signal knows if you swap sim cards, or just the number you registered with. It seems like that may be the best way to go? Just get a ten dollar card and go from there? Probably worth a shot if you're not on signal already.

Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange:

@eldersea @katlin @simotranquilli The only thing that the phone number is needed for is to send an SMS with a one time code to finish the registration process. It can be any number that can receive messages and definitely doesn't even have to be the number of the device you install Signal on. Once registered, the number is no longer needed, except for recovery when Signal was installed on a single device only. 1/2

Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange:

@eldersea @katlin @simotranquilli I have several devices (with different phone numbers) using the same signal account since many years. When I get a new replacement phone, I install Signal and verify it via the app on another device. No number needed. The number I used many years ago to register still exists but has not been used in any of my devices for at least 6 years now. 2/2

Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange:

@eldersea You can also use a (free) virtual number, depending on which country you live in (these are not available everywhere). Again, the only thing it is needed for is to receive the one time code to finalise the registration process. And that is also the only information Signal can produce when subpoenaed. When they send that code. That's it.

Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange:

@Nathan You want me to install some piece of software that supposedly tracks sone data because you don't believe what Signal has stated many times (and proven by what they give when subpoena'd)? What do I need to install for that?

See https://signal.org/bigbrother/central-california-grand-jury/ on what data Signal can produce. It's not much.

the elder sea

@jwildeboer good to know! It's been a long time since I've had to do this. Do you know if it's possible to switch your registration number to a cash prepaid sim?

Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange:

@eldersea Sure, will work. As long as the number can receive the message with the one-time code, every number works. Signal needs "a" phone number for that. Not "your" or your devices number.

Simone Tranquilli

@jwildeboer @eldersea @katlin what i mean is that with the Matrix protocol you have just to choose a server and a nickname. You can add an email for recovery reasons, but is not mandatory.

Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange:

@simotranquilli @eldersea @katlin Sure, Matrix also has its place. And I also use it. But not for the purposes I use Signal for. My thread was specifically about Signal. Please respect my wish to stay on topic and to not turn this into a "yes, but" flamewar. Thx!

Simone Tranquilli

@jwildeboer @eldersea @[email protected] didn't want to start a flamewar. I just wanted to suggest another alternative to the mainstream IM, that's all ️

Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange:

@simotranquilli @eldersea And I very specifically said in the original toot:

(And to all the folks that want to reply saying that you should use something else for $REASONS, please start your own thread. This is a message from me to my followers, not a flamewar invitation.)

Which you decided to ignore. Thanks, I guess?

Simone Tranquilli

@jwildeboer @eldersea ok, that's my last one: on 4 comments of mine, one was a sincere and friendly way to suggest an open alternative, other 3 have been to try gettingout of a not wanted "flamewar". fine, bye, peace and love.

Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange:

@simotranquilli @eldersea So I hope you can imagine how I have to deal with many more people saying that they just wanted to suggest an alternative

the elder sea

@jwildeboer @simotranquilli
Sorry you're dealing with this, I guess everyone needs a primer in reading.

Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange:

@eldersea @simotranquilli I'm a big guy with 30+ years of flamewar experience and a happy trigger finger when it comes to blocking

Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange:

@[email protected] thank you for that and welcome to my blocklist.

Jan Wildeboer 😷:krulorange:

@edgren note that you can sign up with “a” phone number, not necessarily “your” phone number. The only thing needed is “a” phone number to receive the one time code to finalise the registration process.

Nathan

@jwildeboer

don't trust, verify.

Signal can say they don't store data, but how do you know the app not sending telemetry to Mixpanel, Functional Software or Google?

don't trust, verify.

App tracking protection should be used by everyone, do you know who owns Mixpanel? Who else is tracking you?