messaging – Techin' Geek

WhatsApp is poised to launch a highly awaited feature this year: usernames. With over 3 billion users, the messaging platform aims to provide a more privacy-oriented way for individuals to connect without needing to disclose their phone numbers. Username reservations will begin this week, and users will receive notifications within the app when the feature becomes available. You can check your app under Settings, then Account, and look for the Username tab if it is enabled. Options include creating a new username or importing one from Instagram or Facebook. WhatsApp offers a username generator, but you can select whatever suits you best.

As stated by Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s vice president of Product, “Usernames are intended to give you control over who can see your phone number in the first place.” This optional feature enables you to choose and modify your username without aligning it with other account handles. Crafted with privacy in consideration, there is no public list of usernames available for search. Users can enhance their security by requiring a unique four-digit key for access to their contacts.

These usernames are optional, yet Newton-Rex predicts that a significant number of users will embrace this privacy-centric feature. While comparable to competitors, Newton-Rex notes that “Signal usernames are probably a good comparison,” implying that WhatsApp’s strategy parallels theirs. Signal launched usernames in 2024, and various messaging apps continue to investigate connection methods that do not rely on phone numbers, such as Germ DM’s “burner cards” for diverse group connections.

Elon Musk utilized Friday to share critiques of rivals after the debut of the XChat app, a standalone messaging service for X users. “Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram, and iMessage all have significant security issues,” stated a message Musk shared, asserting that “XChat is the sole secure, encrypted messaging application.” Encryption specialists I consulted voiced measured skepticism regarding XChat’s implementation and supported other platforms like Signal.

A primary worry concerning XChat is that users are required to link an existing X account for login. “I’m somewhat wary of that since more data points equate to more tracking,” remarks Maria Villegas Bravo from the Electronic Privacy Information Center. She perceives Musk’s earlier criticisms of other apps as self-serving.

When Musk initially presented XChat as an upgraded, encrypted version of X direct messages, security professionals raised concerns about the storage of users’ cryptographic keys on X’s servers. “Considering XChat’s track record of security flaws, I would hesitate to use it until it undergoes a comprehensive audit,” states Cooper Quintin from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Musk aims for the discussion to zero in on which encrypted messaging app reigns supreme. However, after trying XChat, it feels more akin to Facebook’s Messenger. Rather than launching an elegant, new application, Musk revealed a straightforward extension of his social media platform that features encrypted messaging.

When the XChat team disclosed the app’s launch, the initial release date on Apple’s App Store was set for April 17 but was postponed several times before its surprise launch on April 24. The appropriate app did not consistently appear in searches, with a Russian-language app called “XChat App” briefly ascending Apple’s download rankings. “Scam app,” cautioned one user review.

Upon XChat’s eventual launch, access was initially restricted to the U.S., leaving U.K. users feeling disappointed. “UK should be live soon; had one issue,” wrote X’s head of product, Nikita Bier. Bier attributed the confusion early downloaders faced during the onboarding process to Apple.

After downloading XChat, I found it challenging to locate contacts to message. None of my top iMessage contacts possess X accounts, emphasizing XChat’s niche attraction. After revisiting my old DMs, I revived a few conversations. Following my messages, a pop-up confirmed, “This conversation is now end-to-end encrypted.” Despite this, no responses were received, just some emoji reactions.