Microsoft is gearing up to release its long-awaited and controversial Recall feature for Windows 11 this November, but not without significant changes to address privacy and security concerns.
The tech giant has announced a series of measures to bolster user privacy and data protection for the AI-powered search capability:
- Opt-in by default : Users will now have to explicitly enable Recall during setup, rather than it being on by default.
- Local processing only : All data remains on the user's device, with no cloud uploads.
- Enhanced encryption : Snapshots and related data are fully encrypted.
- Virtualization-based security : A secure enclave isolates Recall processes from the rest of the system.
- Biometric authentication : Windows Hello is required to access Recall data.
- Sensitive data filtering : The system now automatically excludes passwords and financial information from snapshots.
These changes come in response to the backlash Microsoft faced when Recall was initially unveiled. The feature, which takes regular screenshots of user activity to power an advanced search function, raised alarm bells among privacy advocates.
David Weston, Microsoft's VP of Enterprise and OS Security, emphasized the new security measures: All of the sensitive Recall processes [...] are now in a VBS Enclave. We basically took Recall and put it in a virtual machine, so even administrative users are not able to interact in that VM or run any code or see any data.
It's worth noting that Recall will be exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, which have the necessary neural processing units (NPUs) for local AI computations. This hardware requirement ensures that no data needs to leave the user's device for processing.
While Microsoft has made significant strides in addressing privacy concerns, some skepticism remains given the company's initial approach to Recall. The feature will enter public testing in October, giving Windows Insiders a chance to evaluate these new safeguards before the planned November release.
For users still wary of Recall, Microsoft stresses that the feature will be entirely optional. Those who choose not to enable it will not have any snapshots taken or saved on their devices.
As the launch approaches, all eyes will be on Microsoft to see if these enhanced privacy measures are enough to win over critics and make Recall a valuable addition to the Windows 11 ecosystem.
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| An example of the Recall feature in action as it saves snapshots on a Windows interface |