Safety numbers

A safety number is a short fingerprint so you can confirm you’re encrypting to the right colleague — similar in spirit to Signal-style verification.

When to verify

• First time you message someone sensitive
• After a device change if your team’s practice requires it
• Anytime something feels off about a contact

How

1. Open the contact in mutande.
2. Compare the safety number (or scan QR on a device that supports it).
3. Mark verified once it matches out-of-band (call, in person, etc.).

Verification is a human trust step. Encryption still works without it; verification raises confidence you’re not talking to the wrong key.