Microsoft’s Windows Recall feature, which keeps a timeline of activity snapshots on your PC, has a new release date for Windows Insiders. Microsoft revealed the feature only to much fanfare in May postpone indefinitely (after feedback from security researchers) a few weeks later. After taking time to recalibrate, the company he said On Wednesday, it will release Recall to beta testers using it Copilot+ PC in October.
Windows Recall saves snapshots of everything you do on your computer. Designed as a “photographic memory” for your computer activity, it allows you to review things displayed on your screen, such as products, emails, documents or conversations. It’s easy to see the benefits of the feature, especially for those who spend long hours at their computer (or have hazy memories).
But if that sounds like a privacy nightmare, security researchers thought so, too. Despite Microsoft’s security assurances during its announcement at Build 2024, cybersecurity and privacy experts sounded the alarm. The main problem was that intruders wouldn’t be able to access your traditional file system if they only had access to your computer. In addition, they could see everything you’ve done on your computer since you activated Recall. This is because Microsoft – for reasons we don’t fully understand (other Deploy AI to everything as quickly as possible) — Recall data left unencrypted.
Like security expert Kevin Beaumont in detailRecall did not hide sensitive information such as passwords or bank details. Of course, as long as no one could access your computer, your schedule was theoretically safe. But if you accidentally install malware or let an attacker in through some other means, they’ll find a master block of sensitive — unencrypted — data.
In response to the blowback, Microsoft added some common sense security features that made us wonder why they weren’t there in the first place. Still, it’s hard to decipher the company’s reasons for this release when the feature was announced — other than to say it wanted to prioritize a seamless user experience over tight security.
These are security changes When setting up Copilot+ PC, it includes enabling the feature instead of enabling it by default. In addition, Microsoft said that this feature will be required Windows Hello — face or fingerprint scan — and apply “just-in-time” unlocking (unlocked via Hello only). This means that if a hacker gains access to your computer, the screenshot graphic must remain encrypted unless you lend them your face or finger to unlock it (or they find a way around Hello’s encryption).
Microsoft said it will publish a new blog post when the feature becomes available starting in October Windows 11 Insider Program. This feature will require a CoPilot+ PC (the first of which launched in June) with a compatible chip. This is included in the chip list Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus and Snapdragon X Elitealthough Intel may have it the first CoPilot+ chips in the wild when the feature finally comes to preview.
