Microsoft Revamps Recall for Copilot+ PCs With a Focus on Security Concerns

[MaMoo]

Creepy.

 

[Jermelescu]

If some of y'all would think for a bit or got a job you'd figure this is great for productivity. Having a separate machine just for development with this installed is actually great, as I won't spend much time trying to figure out when I saw what, just focus on delivering my software faster and better.

 

[mtosev]

I can say that I personally find this feature potentially useful. If this isn't enabled by default and/or if it can be disabled I don't see any issue.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Some people will not use a microsoft windows online account, secure boot and tpm.

I'm am one of those people. I do my own thing and will not acquiesce to microsoft goose-stepping nonsense.

Deal breaker for what? You're interested in Recall?

It would be interesting to try out, but only on terms that are acceptable to the usage and security ethic I subscribe to. My way is nowhere near the microsoft way.

If some of y'all would think for a bit or got a job you'd figure this is great for productivity.

Nice insult. Proves you need to take your own advice..

 

[AVATARAT]

Microsoft does this because they knows that most people who use Windows can't configure anything, they just click "next, next". So they're going to use all these people to learn their AI with attractive data.
I think Microsoft just needs another lawsuit against Windows and I think they will find it.

 

[Vayra86]

They better totally recall this feature before it blows up in their face again. I might grow three tits before I see this installed on my PC

I can say that I personally find this feature potentially useful. If this isn't enabled by default and/or if it can be disabled I don't see any issue.

You don't? I'd rather see them distribute this as an optional store app with no trace of it on my system whatsoever. I think you are glossing over the fact this is a fan-tas-tic attack vector for a wide range of purposes, and even if you have it disabled, it will most likely pose an additional security threat by just having the service reside on the system. So even if you are choosing not to deal with it, you're still more compromised than you were before.

In the mind of Microsoft though, the reason they don't do that is because their strategy has invested in AI to provide their OS a unique selling point, and Recall is that thing for them, because the overall sentiment thus far really is 'the consumer doesn't really think much about AI' and 'there's just not much that is of true benefit to consumers just yet'. So you get these turds flying at walls. Solutions looking for problems. This was never about privacy or security, it was, is and will always be all and only about Microsoft clasping their market share tightly to their chest, hoping you might stay because they've just done some magic for you. They're not too keen on telling you that magic is actually secure, that's just an afterthought - and only after the fact people complained scanned shit was just available in plain text.

And that makes you all warm and cozy inside. Okay.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I think Microsoft just needs another lawsuit against Windows and I think they will find it.

In my opinion, microsoft needs to be broken up and Windows made it's own company.

 

[Kodehawa]

This is such a scary feature. I don't think anyone, and I mean /anyone/ I've ever talked to liked this, either. I don't understand what's the matter with MS pushing stuff literally no one in earth agrees with.

 

[lexluthermiester]

This is such a scary feature. I don't think anyone, and I mean /anyone/ I've ever talked to liked this, either. I don't understand what's the matter with MS pushing stuff literally no one in earth agrees with.

You're not wrong. This could so easily be abused in many many ways. Very scary indeed.

 

[DavidC1]

Has noone heard of Five Eyes and many other disturbing privacy revelations by Edward Snowden?

This is done on purpose. It isn't just Microsoft being dumb. This feature would push it to in-your-face. They're going to be ever more intrusive in invading your privacy as time goes on.

 

[64K]

Microsoft does this because they knows that most people who use Windows can't configure anything, they just click "next, next". So they're going to use all these people to learn their AI with attractive data.
I think Microsoft just needs another lawsuit against Windows and I think they will find it.

That is true and it's often overlooked that the vast majority of PC users don't know much about Windows at all. They just want it to work. Most that I know only know the basic functions. Even using the Task Manager for simple things isn't well known. If they have even heard about Linux they wouldn't know where to begin with it and if they did they would almost certainly go back to Windows if for no other reason than that's what they use at work along with MS Office. MS apologists like to point out the things that the tech informed can do to stop MS from abusing them so it's not a big deal but the average person can't do these things and it's not about lack of intelligence. It's just not common knowledge. Using myself as an example I know how a car engine works. I know the name of most of the parts but I wouldn't know where to begin to do engine repairs. It would end in a clusterfuck if I ever tried it.

 

[Bayfront Benny]

I just don't understand why MS insists on features absolutely nobody wants. Why??

 

[chrcoluk]

Why on earth would someone want this as a feature, its spyware, Microsoft caught trying to make it on by default, but if it vanished entirely it would have looked odd so here it is.

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

Oh great Bit Locker has to be enabled. Our office went to Intune and Bitlocker and it turned into a complete nightmare sometimes. You cannot upgrade any hardware with bit locker 2.0 turned on so if you change say memroy or cpu you have to decrypt the drive. Then upgrade or ghost to new hard drive then you have to encrypt it again. Also some updates can cause bitlocker to ask for a key on boot up this pisses off our users quite a bit. Bitlocker is a total joke IF MS had not invented it ransomware would not have been invented as well.

My favorite thing when we went to intune+entra+LAPS+bitlocker, was the explanation of how, instead of logging in with a local admin account, we now had to log onto one console, find the PC, copy a long has that was the new local password, then log onto ANOTHER console, find ANOTHER long hash, and type that in to unlock the bitlocker.

Took recovering files from a borked windows install from a 5 minute job to multiple hours, or impossible. Especially when intune sees the machine but doesnt enroll it in entra, or vice versa, or a wipe fails, or......

MS software sucks MAJOR arse.

I just don't understand why MS insists on features absolutely nobody wants. Why??

Without getting too deep into conspiracy theories: Look up the five eyes, and the fourteen eyes, and imagine why they'd want to be able to see a recording of anyone's desktop at any time. Then see how much gov't funding MS has received every year.

 

[A&P211]

You can remove Co-pilot from windows, go into the Add or remove programs, find co-pilot, remove it, I did.

 

[JWNoctis]

Why on earth would someone want this as a feature, its spyware, Microsoft caught trying to make it on by default, but if it vanished entirely it would have looked odd so here it is.

This is such a scary feature. I don't think anyone, and I mean /anyone/ I've ever talked to liked this, either. I don't understand what's the matter with MS pushing stuff literally no one in earth agrees with.

So it would paint a salient target everyone would focus on, while business went on as usual with everything else? I'm only half-joking.

Either way, may it prove useful to folks with less...well, concerns./s

 

[AusWolf]

You can remove Co-pilot from windows, go into the Add or remove programs, find co-pilot, remove it, I did.

It's still bad that Windows comes with intrusive and useless features that you have to remove manually. Isn't this what the app store is for? So you could install all the garbage you need when you need it?

 

[dyonoctis]

In my opinion, microsoft needs to be broken up and Windows made it's own company.

Windows should be donated to ReactOS

 

[Jermelescu]

I just don't understand why MS insists on features absolutely nobody wants. Why??

Have you actually tried Recall when you could have gotten your hands on it? It's incredible. Avoiding spending so much time trying to figure out when I saw what is fantastic for my business going forward.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Windows should be donated to ReactOS

While we all know you're joking, the ReactOS guys could hardly do worse..

Have you actually tried Recall when you could have gotten your hands on it? It's incredible. Avoiding spending so much time trying to figure out when I saw what is fantastic for my business going forward.

No one is denying how useful it can be. However, as there is a huge potential for security problems, whether business confidentiality or personal privacy, the risk of abuse is COMPLETELY unacceptable. The simple answer is, if that risk is not a problem for you, feel free. However if you're anyone who works in a field where information and data security are important, critical or legally compelled, the use of Recall functionality is absolutely unacceptable on any level.

 

[Jermelescu]

While we all know you're joking, the ReactOS guys could hardly do worse..


No one is denying how useful it can be. However, as there is a huge potential for security problems, whether business confidentiality or personal privacy, the risk of abuse is COMPLETELY unacceptable. The simple answer is, if that risk is not a problem for you, feel free. However if you're anyone who works in a field where information and data security are important, critical or legally compelled, the use of Recall functionality is absolutely unacceptable on any level.

We'll have to wait and see. If there will be data leaks Microsoft is gonna be in its biggest trouble since founding, so I doubt they'll let it happen.
If it will be proven that it's safe, it will be a gamechanger (that's if it will not be used as a Big Brother thingy by corporations).

 

[lexluthermiester]

We'll have to wait and see. If there will be data leaks Microsoft is gonna be in its biggest trouble since founding, so I doubt they'll let it happen.
If it will be proven that it's safe, it will be a gamechanger (that's if it will not be used as a Big Brother thingy by corporations).

Even if there are no software vulnerabilities ever(LMAO), the problem with unauthorized or illicit access is ever present which can never be understated or ignored. It's still unacceptable for a lot of use-case-scenarios.

 

[Easo]

The comments, as usual, are far more entertaining than the article itself.
Also lol at all the Bitlocker claims here, just lol.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Oh great Bit Locker has to be enabled. Our office went to Intune and Bitlocker and it turned into a complete nightmare sometimes. You cannot upgrade any hardware with bit locker 2.0 turned on so if you change say memroy or cpu you have to decrypt the drive. Then upgrade or ghost to new hard drive then you have to encrypt it again. Also some updates can cause bitlocker to ask for a key on boot up this pisses off our users quite a bit. Bitlocker is a total joke IF MS had not invented it ransomware would not have been invented as well.

You do not have to decrypt the drive you can toggle bitlocker.

FWIW for actual work use most clients are going to require encryption. Bitlocker is the least nasty of the options and causes the least headaches.

 

[AusWolf]

Even if there are no software vulnerabilities ever(LMAO), the problem with unauthorized or illicit access is ever present which can never be understated or ignored. It's still unacceptable for a lot of use-case-scenarios.

The biggest illicit access is presumably done by Microsoft themselves, as they're sifting through your personal usage history with AI, looking for useful info to sell to advertisers (after having you pay a buttload of money for the OS first). I find such practice disgusting and unacceptable.