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This is a usability stance. Removing the ability to use phone numbers would have made it harder for users to adopt Signal, and I find it to be a reasonable trad
by usui 5y ago
This is a usability stance. Removing the ability to use phone numbers would have made it harder for users to adopt Signal, and I find it to be a reasonable trade-off. At least right now, the only thing prying eyes can do is know that you use Signal due to the login SMS, or hijack your SMS. We all know about some terrible security practices that phone providers have been doing with phone number swapping by unauthorized parties, but if we can pick non-awful phone providers which at least have password-protected SIM locks on the account, it shouldn't be as viable.
- JoshTriplett 5y ago> Removing the ability to use phone numbers I've never seen anyone ask for Signal to remove the ability to use phone numbers. People ask Signal to add the ability to use something other than a phone number, as well.
- Arnt 5y agoAs I've heard it, it's motivated by security rather than usability: If two people use Signal to communicate with each other, then they should use the Signal protocol rather than SMS, without having to go through any extra steps. There are different ways to achieve that, all of which have drawbacks. They chose one.