https://theintercept.com/2024/07/16/signal-app-privacy-phone-number
Yes, you can use Signal without sharing your personal phone number. Here’s how I did it.
Doesn't seem especially practical, but I thought folks here might be interested in this method. With the increasing scarcity of pay phones I suspect it might be equally as "easy" to get a burner cell phone with cash and register a signal account that way.
Kind of ironic that an article about anonymity wanted me to provide my email address and remove anonymity in order to read it.
And relies on using a payphone! No offense to OP, but this article is utter garbage.
When was the last time you tried to purchase a burner phone sim in the USA? You can buy them cash only a few places, but are completely useless until "activited" usually with an online account confirming your identity.
No, I haven't bought one recently. How would you have a reputable online account (that could confirm your identity) without also having a phone already?
You activate online usually and have to enter credit card details, addresses, etc. If you use a one time card, and an address that doesn't match your name on the account you have to make to you in the personal database, then your sim is blocked until verified. Verification is usually sending them images of government issued ID.
The sim can usually access their networks to create the account and verify without using data. Meaning if it truly was your only device, it will allow you unlimited data to use the ISP website.
Can you no longer just register signal with a pay as you go number?
I dont recall needing credit cards etc to register
The issue is good luck getting a pay as you go number without identity verification.
You have to pay by credit card and if you don't, you'll be forced to make an online account with verification.