Subj : Windows Recall will no longer be enabled by default on Copilot Pl To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Sat Jun 08 2024 00:15:05 Windows Recall will no longer be enabled by default on Copilot Plus PCs here's what you need to know Date: Fri, 07 Jun 2024 23:00:18 +0000 Description: It will now be turned off by default FULL STORY ====================================================================== Windows Recall has proven to be a highly controversial AI feature ever since it was first announced in May . What it does is it constantly takes screenshots of everything you do on your PC and then places the images into a searchable on-device database. And yes, that includes pictures displaying sensitive information. People were quick to call it a security nightmare after Microsoft openly admitted the software would not hide passwords or financial account numbers. The company attempted to defend its decision but has recently decided to make multiple safety improvements to Recall before its quickly approaching June 18 launch. Arguably, the most important of these changes is that Recall will no longer be turned on by default upon activating your PC. According to a recent post on the Windows Experience Blog , the feature will instead be off by default, meaning youll have to enable it yourself during a computers setup process. Next, enrolling into Windows Hello is now a requirement to activate Recall and to view your screenshot timeline. This means youll have to authenticate yourself as the primary user through a biometric input or PIN before accessing the feature. (Image credit: Microsoft) As for the final update, Microsoft is beefing up security by adding extra layers of data protection [including] just in time decryption from Windows Hello ESS (Enhanced Sign-in Security). As a result, snapshots can only be viewed whenever a user proves their identity. Additionally, Recalls search index database is now encrypted. What's strange is this suggests the database that wouldve stored images containing bank account numbers was initially unprotected and vulnerable to outside forces. It may surprise you to hear how unsafe it was, but at least theyre fixing it before launch and not after. Analysis: Remaining skeptical The rest of the blog post reiterates the security functions of Windows Recall that were previously known. For example, snapshots will be stored locally on your computer and not uploaded to Microsoft servers. An icon representing the feature will sit in the system tray, letting you know when Windows is saving images. Plus, users can pause, filter, [or] delete snapshots whenever they want. Microsoft also stresses that Recall will only be available on the upcoming Copilot Plus PCs since they have robust security to ensure privacy. Does this mean we can totally trust Windows Recall to maintain data security? No, not really. Jake Williams, VP of R&D at the cybersecurity consultancy Hunter Strategy, told Wired he still sees serious risks [as well as] unresolved privacy problems. People could be hit with a subpoena forcing them to cough up PINs to gian access to Recall databases. Although Microsoft claims it cant see snapshots, whos to say the tech giant cant change its mind a year or two down the line and decide to harvest all that sensitive information. They may find some legal loophole giving them carte blanche to do whatever they want with Recall data. Its scary, though. If you're looking for ways to improve your online security, check out TechRadar's massive list of the best privacy tools for 2024 . You might also like Microsofts full-screen reminders to upgrade to Windows 11 are back for Windows 10 users, and they might be here to stay Not so fast, Windows 11! Microsoft is keeping Windows 10 in the game with new features going forward Your Microsoft Office documents might be hiding some serious security worries ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/windows-recall-will-no-longer-be- enabled-by-default-on-copilot-plus-pcs-heres-what-you-need-to-know --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .