"Signal Introduces Usernames for Private Messaging"

Signal, the encrypted messaging app, has made a significant change to its default privacy settings by no longer displaying phone numbers to contacts by default. Instead, users can now share usernames, providing a layer of privacy and security. This move aims to protect users from potential surveillance, hacking, and tracking, particularly in the face of growing concerns about authoritarianism and privacy breaches. The change represents a significant shift in the history of direct messaging and is expected to have a substantial impact on user security.