When I press on some message to forward it, it shows me Random usernames of contacts I don’t know. And it even shows some Mobile Numbers I don’t know. For example, one number starts with +964 that’s Iraq. I’m from Europe tho. These contacts and numbers are from all over the place.
Edit: This only happens on Signal Desktop. If I try to forward a message on Android it only shows my Contacts. And none of these unkown ones.
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So Signal does not protect against those that fill their contacts with every existing number?
But also, this does not explain why is it only happening in the desktop app for OP
Protect against what? People knowing you have Signal? Excuse me if it’s obvious to everyone else, but I’m struggling to understand the issue here.
Yes. That’s my main issue. Maybe you don’t need to understand the reasons why I think it’s an issue to understand it’s an issue to me?
I don’t need to understand that it’s an issue for you, but I want to understand why it’s an issue for you.
It confirms that your number is valid and in use.
I mean, ever heard of a phonebook?
You can check that in the phone app too. Hit new message, enter the numer, hit "New message to… " and it’ll tell you if it isn’t known. There is rate limiting in that function, you’d need a lot of signal accounts to sweep all phone numbers.
You could also try signing up to signal using the number you want to check.
Neither way however you would get the signal name or profile pic of the number if I understand it correctly, that would get sent if they reply to you.
The fact that the same issue is present on all platforms doesn’t make it any better for those who oppose the method.
It’s a necessary feature if you are using phone numbers. Signal has to tell you if your message has any chance of being received.
I don’t want to message someones number, to find out they never got my message and don’t have signal a few days later, and I don’t want to message them via whatsapp too, giving them a chance to use that when they have signal.