Is there a quick explanation of what signal actually does? I don't understand the need for a phone number either. Jami doesn't ask for a phone number. It has other deficiencies that make me not want to use it, but those are technical rather than policy, more or less. Similarly, irc (I'm luddite enough to still be using it) doesn't ask for a phone number either. So this is all suspicious. There are a bunch of other things like this too (Element, Matrix, etc.) that I haven't looked into and tbh I don't understand why they exist.

Do not trust signal. Mosk advertised it on twitter.

Edit: I only got 11 downvotes yet, so i have to add:

Signal is not allowed in Russia, guess why. Telegram is. yes yes try harder. THINK mf

WhatsApp is obviously not recommended.

I’m not saying don’t use. I’m saying do not trust.

https://signal.org/blog/phone-number-privacy-usernames/

I think you can use a pay phone to sign up.

They implemented an alt method IIRC but you must go out of your way to search and find it. I just recall seeing a bunch of post headlines about using email or something like that a year or so back.

They send an initial SMS message that is a main expense and funded by some rich person and donations. I think that has some significance to encryption or something but I'm not sure of the details. I could be wrong on that one, it has been years since I read the details.

Tried session? Anyone have comments on it? Nice to be able to skip the phone and easily use vpn, though I haven’t spent enough time on that.