New privacy roll-out means Whatsapp users won’t have to share their phone numbers

WA Police issue warning as Telstra outage disrupts calls to Triple Zero

People trying to call Triple Zero are being affected by a nationwide Telstra outage.

WhatsApp To Let Users Chat Without Sharing Phone Numbers Soon

The hundreds of millions who use Meta-owned messenger WhatsApp to chat with family, friends or businesses will no longer need to share phone numbers under a coming update, the company said Monday.

Text-message login codes are going away, and the replacement is already on your phone

You already own your next big security boost.

WhatsApp Is Finally Getting Usernames: Here’s How It Works

WhatsApp is rolling out a pretty big privacy change that’s going to let people connect with each other without ever having to hand over their actual phone number. Starting this week, you can lock in a username for yourself ahead of the official rollout later this year, and given that WhatsApp has something like 3 [] The post WhatsApp Is Finally Getting Usernames: Here’s How It Works first appeared on iPhone in Canada.

How to reserve and change your WhatsApp username

WhatsApp now lets users reserve usernames ahead of the feature’s full rollout, making it possible to connect without sharing a phone number once usernames go live.

Data Privacy: WhatsApp to let users chat without sharing phone numbers

By Juliet Umeh Meta-owned WhatsApp has unveiled a new privacy feature that will allow users to chat without sharing their phone numbers, giving users greater control over their personal information. The messaging platform on Monday began rolling out username reservations globally ahead of the feature’s full launch later this year. With the update, users who [] The post Data Privacy: WhatsApp to let users chat without sharing phone numbers appeared first on Vanguard News.

Telstra outage LIVE: Users report mass network disruption across Australia

Users across Australia are reporting a widespread Telstra network outage, with thousands left without mobile reception during the Wednesday morning rush hour

WhatsApp is bringing username feature, why has India asked it to pause username rollout? Explained

After years of relying on phone numbers as the only way to connect, WhatsApp is now rolling out an update that allows users to create usernames. The update allows users connect using usernames instead of sharing their phone numbers. However, the Meta-based company clarified that users would still require a phone number to create an account.

WhatsApp to let users reserve usernames ahead of feature rollout; phone numbers can stay private

WhatsApp has begun allowing users to reserve usernames before the feature launches globally later this year. The update let's users chat without phone numbers.

New research to mark the evolution of mobile shows two in three people use their mobiles to stay connected to loved ones

The top three uses of mobile phones are staying in touch with family and friends (two in three or 66 of people aged 40 and over), social media (54), and banking, budgeting, and managing finances (32), according to new research published by Vodafone Ireland. The research, commissioned among 500 mobile phone users aged 40 and []

Your WhatsApp username is up for grabs – Reserve yours now before someone else takes it

WhatsApp has announced a privacy update that will allow users to connect with others without sharing their phone numbers, as the messaging platform introduces usernames for the first time.

You soon won't need to give someone your phone number to chat on WhatsApp

WhatsApp is rolling out usernames that can be used to contact people on the app.

Telegram Ban Lifted, But Why Are Users Still Facing Login and Messaging Issues?

Even after the expiry of the government's temporary restriction period, several users across India continue to report issues accessing the messaging platform Telegram, which had been blocked ahead of the NEET-UG 2026 retest. The Centre had ordered a nationwide block on

Meta Adds WhatsApp Usernames: Here’s What You Need to Know

WhatsApp is rolling out usernames so people can chat without sharing phone numbers. Here’s how reservations, username keys, and rules work. The post Meta Adds WhatsApp Usernames: Here’s What You Need to Know appeared first on TechRepublic.

WhatsApp to allow people chat without using phone numbers

WhatsApp users will no longer have to share phone numbers to exchange messages as part of the latest update to the service.

Australians affected by nationwide Telstra outage

Telstra users are being affected by a nationwide outage this morning. According to the website Downdetector, the issue started to peak at about 6:30am when more than 7,500 Telstra users were unable to access the internet or make phone calls. The outage has affected some transport lines, particularly in Melbourne and New South Wales. Despite the outage, customers are still able to call Triple Zero and will be transferred to another network like Optus or Vodafone.

India Targets Encrypted Messengers by Feature: MeitY Sends Notices to Telegram and Signal

India's MeitY sent notices to Telegram and Signal asking them to justify their username features amid fraud concerns. The action, a day after WhatsApp was told to pause its own username rollout, marks India's shift from app bans to feature-by-feature scrutiny of messaging platforms.

Bizarre ‘time travel’ bug blamed for catastrophic Telstra outage

The widespread outage led to at least 300 Triple Zero calls failing, and six customers tell Telstra they needed more help when welfare checks were conducted.

Parents of Mississippi teen who died on July 4 trip beg for information as lawyer says ‘it’s not adding up’

The family believes text messages from social media apps had been deleted from his phone when they got it back, and they plan to employ experts to try to receive all the data they can

साइबर ठगी नियन्त्रणका लागि भारतमा भिसाको ‘पेमेंट पासकी’ सेवा

काठमाडौं ।अनलाइन भुक्तानीलाई थप सुरक्षित, सहज र छिटो बनाउने उद्देश्यले डिजिटल भुक्तानी कम्पनी भिसाले भारतमा ‘भिसा पेमेंट पासकी’ सेवा सुरु गरेको छ। नयाँ प्रणालीमार्फत अब कार्ड प्रयोग गरेर गरिने अनलाइन भुक्तानीमा ओटीपी (वन टाइम पासवर्ड) वा छुट्टै पासवर्ड आवश्यक नपर्ने भएको छ। यसको सट्टा प्रयोगकर्ताले आफ्नो मोबाइलमा उपलब्ध बायोमेट्रिक सुरक्षा, जस्तै फिंगरप्रिन्ट वा फेस रेकग्निसन, []

Commodore’s new flip phone bans all social media – and lets you play retro games

Those yearning for a simpler era of technology are in luck, as a new retro-style flip phone blocks social media apps while letting users play classic games.

Telstra checking if customers are OK after Triple Zero call failures

The widespread outage is affecting mobile calls and data connections, and has even prevented some businesses from processing payments.

Usernames Are Coming to WhatsApp Soon. Here's How to Reserve Yours

Even if you only use WhatsApp sometimes, you might want to snag your username now to stop giving out your phone number.

WhatsApp to let users chat without numbers

Whatsapp is set to let people chat without having to reveal their phone number – by exchanging unique usernames instead. This will be rolled out globally to the platform’s three billion account holders over the next few months, the platform says. From this week, users will start being able to reserve a name via the [] The post WhatsApp to let users chat without numbers appeared first on The Namibian.

How to secure your WhatsApp username handle and hide your phone number

WhatsApp boosts user privacy with username, allowing anonymity in interactions. New business tools improve customer engagement without showing phone numbers.

Have you been blocked? WhatsApp may have a hidden clue

End-to-end encryption verification system may show unusual behavior in blocked chats. The post Have you been blocked? WhatsApp may have a hidden clue appeared first on BOL News.

Virgin Media fined after hanging up on customers trying to cancel contracts

Millions of phone calls from customers were likely mishandled over nearly a three-year period, the regulator says.

Telus wants CRTC to bring back phone locking to prevent theft

Vancouver-based national telecom Telus wants the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to bring back device locking to prevent fraud and theft. Telus filed an application with the commission in May 2026 seeking a review of Canada’s Wireless Code to add a new, temporary 60-day device locking period for smartphones and other mobile devices. While []

On Telegram, pay via UPI for privacy abuse

On Telegram, pay via UPI for privacy abuse

Telstra hit by fresh Triple Zero fault hours after outage fixed

The telco says a “secondary issue” is stopping some Triple Zero calls from connecting, hours after it declared the day’s outage resolved.

All you need to know about WhatsApp usernames

After 17 years of phone-number-only contact, WhatsApp is rolling out usernames to let users chat without handing out your digits. Usernames are also expected to go live later this year. Here’s what’s happening and how to grab yours. 1. What WhatsApp usernames actually areUsernames are unique handles, like @BenMal or @DDDBank, that you can use The post All you need to know about WhatsApp usernames appeared first on Dateline Nigeria.

Android’s background data habit is now written into Google Play’s fine print

Google’s updated Play terms explain how Android system services can use cellular data in the background, even while phones are locked. Users get clearer wording, but less certainty over data and updates.

India orders WhatsApp to halt username feature over anonymity concerns

India has asked WhatsApp to justify the implementation of a planned feature covering usernames and to freeze the roll-out in its biggest market, escalating a crackdown on messaging anonymity that began with Telegram, according to a government letter. Earlier this week, Meta’s WhatsApp said ‌it had begun a phased global roll-out, including in India, of the feature, which lets users reserve a unique username and eventually message others without sharing their phone numbers. The intervention is an...