June 7, 2024 at 01:09PM
Microsoft has responded to public pressure by changing the default settings for its Windows Recall feature on Copilot+ PCs. Following criticism about security and privacy risks, the company announced that the feature will now be off by default, with additional security measures such as encryption and user authentication requirements. Microsoft continues to promote the feature’s fine-grained user controls and emphasizes that the AI processing happens exclusively on the local device.
Based on the meeting notes, here are the key takeaways:
1. Microsoft has decided to change the default setting for the controversial Windows Recall feature on Copilot+ PCs due to public pressure and security concerns.
2. The feature, which uses AI to create a searchable digital memory of user activities on Windows computers, will now be turned off by default, requiring users to proactively opt in to use it.
3. Security researchers documented potential malware threats to Windows Recall data, prompting Microsoft to enhance data protection measures such as encryption of the search index database and just-in-time decryption protected by Windows Hello.
4. Microsoft maintains that the Recall feature stores snapshots locally on Copilot+ PCs and conducts AI processing exclusively on the device, emphasizing that user data is not used to train AI on the device.
5. Despite the changes in the default setting, Microsoft continues to market the feature, emphasizing fine-grained user controls for customization.
These takeaways provide a clear summary of the developments related to the Windows Recall feature discussed in the meeting.