Usernames, Is changing to case sensitive the answer to username squatting

[MS-Mcleod]

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I saw posts on username squatting, and related to it as the username I wanted was taken, I took the suggestion from Github on changing when making my account, but noticed that the user actually has a different username then the one I wanted. The Capitals are different. And the capitals are important. Changing to case sensitive seems like a good middle ground to allow users to have greater control over their username. It could be a matter of having the all the active user names come up in the search.

[pratyush0000]

Making usernames case-sensitive on GitHub is a solution because it increases the pool of unique usernames available, allowing users to differentiate themselves through capitalization (e.g., MSMcelod(your username) vs. msmcelod). This change reduces username squatting by providing more options and opportunities for users to find their desired usernames.

But there are issues that i think may prevent it's implementation. Here are a few:

• User Confusion:
  Users might have difficulty remembering the exact capitalization of their usernames, leading to login issues and frustration.

• Increased Phishing Risk:
  Similar usernames with different capitalization (e.g., MSMcelod vs. MsMcelod) could be exploited for phishing or impersonation, increasing security risks.

• Technical Complexity:
  Implementing case sensitivity would require significant changes to GitHub's existing infrastructure, affecting authentication systems, user management, and possibly causing backward compatibility issues.

• Consistency and Standards:
  Many platforms use case-insensitive usernames for consistency and ease of use. Changing this standard might create inconsistencies across different services and confusion among users accustomed to the current system.

• Backward Compatibility:
  Transitioning to a case-sensitive system could disrupt existing workflows, integrations, and tools that rely on the current case-insensitive system.

[AurelianSpodarec]

That's actually a horrible idea. Because everyone will assume lowercase and this is the standard.

Just bring back the policy to get usernames that are being obeviously squatted.

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[54J4N]

@MS-Mcleod
making usernames case-sensitive can help reduce username squatting by increasing available variations, but it may lead to user confusion and requires careful implementation to ensure smooth user experience. Providing a search function that displays all variations can mitigate potential issues.
same like email addresses, though technically case-sensitive, are commonly treated as case-insensitive by most systems to prevent confusion and ensure delivery reliability.

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[tdsreader]

Is it possible to make changing the case of the username NOT counted as change of the username, at least in the sense of not being able to change back to previous name for 90 days, but just changing the DISPLAY username?