After months of reworking, Microsoft has reintroduced its Recall AI feature, which had been paused earlier this year due to significant security concerns.
From the outset, Microsoft Recall faced backlash. The AI feature is designed to track user activity on Windows 11 devices so that Copilot can “remember” items or tasks if prompted by the user, such as asking, “Where did I save that email draft from last week?” However, the idea of an AI monitoring every move you make on your device raised privacy concerns, and those fears were amplified when it was discovered that all tracked activity was stored as plain text files — a glaring vulnerability that left users’ data at risk of hacking.
This outcry led Microsoft to make Recall an opt-in feature rather than enabling it by default on Copilot+ PCs. The company also delayed the feature’s full rollout to October, meaning users are just days away from finally accessing it. But the big question remains: Is Recall safe to use now?
Recall’s Return with a Security Overhaul
After several months of updates and revisions, Microsoft has brought Recall back, now with a series of major security enhancements.
For starters, Microsoft has integrated Windows Hello sign-in for all Recall-related actions, such as adjusting settings. This ensures that only authorized users can make changes. Additionally, Microsoft has introduced rate-limiting and anti-hammering techniques to prevent malicious attempts to access Recall data.
Privacy settings have also been beefed up. Recall now automatically refrains from saving activity snapshots if you’re using private browsing mode, and users can manually block specific apps and websites from being tracked. Moreover, you have control over how long data is stored and the option to delete it whenever you choose. Importantly, Recall now incorporates automatic sensitive content filtering, which helps prevent passwords and other private information from being stored.
In a blog post, Microsoft clarified, “Snapshots and associated data are stored locally on the device. Recall does not share snapshots or associated data with Microsoft or third parties, nor is it shared between different Windows users on the same device. Windows will ask for your permission before saving snapshots.”
Is Recall Safe to Use Now?
Microsoft has undoubtedly made substantial efforts to address the security concerns that plagued Recall’s initial release. But does that mean it’s entirely safe to use?
For users unfamiliar with cybersecurity, the details of Microsoft’s updates might seem overwhelming. The most important point to note is that Recall won’t run unless you manually enable it. It’s no longer a hidden feature tracking your every move in the background. You can also completely delete it from your device if it doesn’t meet your privacy standards.
While Recall is now much safer than before, it’s not without risks. However, with new security layers, privacy filters, and settings, it’s considerably more secure than when it first debuted in June. If you choose to use it, it’s wise to keep snapshot notifications on, block any sensitive apps or websites from being tracked, and regularly clear out your Recall history to prevent storing too much activity data.
Ultimately, Microsoft has made Recall a safer, more transparent tool, but users should remain vigilant about their privacy and security settings when using it.
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https://community.wongcw.com/blogs/859400/Microsoft-s-Controversial-Recall-Feature-is-Back-But-is-it
