*Updated: 14 June 2024 13:40 with an update from Microsoft*
Images source: Microsoft.
*Update*
In an update to the earlier blog post, Microsoft has announced that it will be changing the Recall preview from one that would be running on Copilot+ PCs to one that would be available first to those in the Windows Insider Program (WIP) on 18 June. Following feedback from the community, Microsoft would then roll it out for all Copilot+ PCs. Due to the hardware requirements of Recall however, a Copilot+ PC will still be needed to trial it.
Even before its preview introduction on 18 June 2024, Microsoft is making changes to the way its Recall function works and is used due to user outcries over privacy concerns.
Announced in a blog post, the company shared information on the set-up experience, privacy controls, and its views on security.
Designed to work on devices based around Copilot+ PC, Recall is a new way to instantly find something you’ve previously seen on your PC.
It works by creating an “explorable visual timeline” by taking snapshots of what appears on your screen. These images are encrypted, stored and analysed locally, using on-device AI capabilities to understand their context. When you log back into your Copilot+ PC, you can retrace your steps visually by going over the series of images taken from your activities on your device.
Designed with security in mind
How Recall works. Images source: Microsoft.
Microsoft is also aware that users have to trust the Recall function before they decide to embrace and use it. The company hastened to add that you can disable saving snapshots, pause temporarily, filter applications and delete your snapshots at any time.
Controls are also in place to allow each user to customise the Recall experience to their comfort level, ensuring their information is protected and that they are in control of when, what and how it is captured:
- Snapshots are stored locally: Copilot+ PCs have powerful AI that works on your device itself. No internet or cloud connections are used to store and process snapshots. Recall’s AI processing happens exclusively on your device, and your snapshots are kept safely on your local device only. Your snapshots are yours and they are not used to train the AI on Copilot+ PCs.
- Snapshots are not shared: Recall does not send your snapshots to Microsoft. Snapshots are not shared with any other companies or applications. Recall doesn’t share snapshots with other users who are signed into the same device, and per-user encryption ensures even administrators cannot view other users’ snapshots.
- You will know when Recall is saving snapshots: You’ll see Recall pinned to the taskbar when you reach your desktop. You’ll have a Recall snapshot icon on the system tray letting you know when Windows is saving snapshots.
- Digital rights managed or InPrivate browsing snapshots are not saved: Probably, most important to users, Recall does not save snapshots of digital rights managed content or InPrivate browsing in supported web browsers.
- You can pause, filter and delete what’s saved at any time: You’re always in control of what’s saved as a snapshot. You can disable saving snapshots, pause them temporarily, filter applications and websites from being in snapshots, and delete your snapshots at any time.
- Enterprise and customer choice: For customers using managed work devices, your IT administrator is provided the control to disable the ability to save snapshots. However, your IT administrator cannot enable saving snapshots on your behalf. The choice to enable saving snapshots is solely.
Additionally, Microsoft is launching Recall in preview on Copilot+ PCs – to give customers a choice to engage with the feature early, or not, and to give the company an opportunity to learn from the types of real-world scenarios customers and the Windows community finds most useful.
Security updates
You can access Recall images using Windows Hello. Images source: Microsoft.
In the same blog post, Microsoft added that it is also introducing the following updates:
- First, Microsoft is making Recall an opt-in experience, so the user has to proactively choose to turn it on, or it will be left off by default.
- Second, Windows Hello enrolment is required to enable Recall. In addition, proof of presence is also required to view your timeline and search in Recall meaning that Recall snapshots will only be decrypted and accessible when the user authenticates.
- Third, Microsoft is adding additional layers of data protection including “just in time” decryption protected by Windows Hello Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) so Recall snapshots will only be decrypted and accessible when the user authenticates.
Source: BBC, Microsoft blog
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