NewsPublished 29 Jun 2026

WhatsApp rolls out usernames to help users hide their phone number

Source Bleeping Computer

Description

WhatsApp is finally allowing users to reserve usernames, a privacy feature that lets them hide their phone numbers from people not in their contact list. [...]

Impact

This feature reduces the exposure of users' phone numbers to unknown contacts, thereby potentially lowering the risk of unwanted contact or phone number-based attacks. There is no indication of a security vulnerability or exploit associated with this feature.

Defensive guidance

No mitigation is required as this is a privacy feature rollout, not a vulnerability. Users can opt to use usernames to protect their phone numbers from being visible to non-contacts.

Summary

WhatsApp's rollout of usernames is a privacy enhancement that lets users conceal their phone numbers from non-contacts by using usernames instead. This feature is not a vulnerability or exploit but a privacy improvement to limit phone number visibility.

References

bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/whatsapp-rolls-out-usernames-to-help-users-hide-their-phone-number/ (opens in a new tab)

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Description

AI analysisMachine-generated, updated 29 Jun 2026, 17:51 UTC

References

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