How to use the VeilChat
- 1 Press “Create a number”, pick one of the suggested numbers (or choose your own) and set a PIN of at least six digits. No name, email address or phone number is asked.
- 2 Give your number to someone you know – in person, or through a channel you trust. They create their own number the same way.
- 3 Enter their number under “Write to a number” and send a message. They see it the next time they open VeilChat, on any device where they sign in.
- 4 Use “Account & privacy” to copy your number, change your PIN, see and sign out your devices, unblock numbers, or delete your number for good.
Messaging without handing out your phone number
A phone number says a lot: it is tied to your name at the provider, it travels with you for years, and once someone has it, every messaging app can find you with it. Sometimes you want to stay in touch with someone – a new acquaintance, a seller, a group of volunteers – without giving them that. VeilChat gives you a virtual number for exactly that: a short number that only works here, is not linked to your phone, and can be deleted when you no longer need it.
How it works
You create a number and a PIN. You tell the number to someone you know; they write to it from their own VeilChat number. There is no directory and no search: nobody can browse numbers or find you by name, and the only way to reach you is to have been given your number. Messages are text only, and you read them in the browser – on your phone, a laptop or a work computer – without installing anything.
What VeilChat protects – and what it does not
- Pseudonymous, not anonymous. Your number is not linked to your name, email or phone number, and we do not ask for them. But our server sees your IP address while you use it (for security and rate limits), and the person you write to may of course know who you are.
- Encrypted on our server, not end-to-end. Messages travel over HTTPS and are stored encrypted. That protects them in database copies and backups, but it is not end-to-end encryption: technically, Synsi could read stored messages. We open a message only to handle a report about it.
- Deleted after 30 days. Messages disappear automatically after 30 days, on every device. Backups may hold a copy a little longer until they are replaced.
- Your PIN is the only key. Because there is no email address, a forgotten PIN cannot be reset. Choose one you will remember – and not 123456 or your birth year: easy PINs are refused, and repeated wrong attempts lock the number for a while.
Blocking and reporting
If someone you gave your number to becomes a nuisance, block them: they can no longer send you anything, and they are not told that they were blocked. You can also report a number or a single message. A report keeps a copy of that message for our moderators for at most 90 days; reading it requires a recorded reason.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a phone number or an email address?
No. You only choose a virtual number and a PIN. VeilChat does not ask for your name, email address or phone number.
Is VeilChat anonymous?
It is pseudonymous: your number is not linked to who you are. It is not fully anonymous – our server sees your IP address while you use it, and the people you write to may know you.
Is VeilChat end-to-end encrypted?
No. Messages are sent over HTTPS and stored encrypted on our server, but Synsi could technically read them. We only do so to handle a report.
What happens if I forget my PIN?
It cannot be reset, because we have no email address or phone number to verify you. If you are still signed in on a device, change it there under Account & privacy; otherwise the number is lost.
How long are messages kept?
30 days. After that they are deleted automatically, on every device.
Can strangers find me?
No. There is no directory or search. Only people you gave your number to can write to you, and you can block any of them.
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