Yes, you can use Signal without sharing your personal phone number. Here’s how I did it.

  • TheBigBrother@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    What about buying the cheapest SIM card in a convenience store and activate the service with it using a dumb phone?

    • BrikoX@lemmy.zipOP
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      2 months ago

      That might work in most places, but there are countries that only sell pre-paid cards with ID registration.

      • delirious_owl@discuss.online
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        2 months ago

        Protip: in those countries, go to the tourist hot spots and walk into a SIM selling shop. Use a thick foreign accent.

        There’s always an industry for anon SIM cards for tourists.

        • Hanrahan@slrpnk.net
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          2 months ago

          That won’t work in Australia. You can buy the SIM anywhere of course, you just can’t activate it. You’ll need proof of ID on line to do that… There are only three operators (the rest are resellers). I am sure there are ways around it but not the one you suggest.

          When I was last in NZ you didn’t need ID must buy a SIM and good to go, not sjre thats still the case though?

    • Cobrachicken@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Usually those numbers fall back into the provider’s pool after a time of not regular usage and get sold again, at least here in Europe.

    • mipadaitu@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      It’s fine for a temporary signal account, but if you let the number expire, then someone else gets assigned that number, and that new person wants to use Signal, they’ll get your account.

      They can’t see your old messages, but they’ll get any new ones instead of you.