Microsoft’s AI ‘Recall’, spyware or not?

RingTailCoon 11 · May 28, 2024

What do you think? Yes or no? I think after many readings about it: YES.

antspants · May 28, 2024

“The feature has also been compared with “spyware” due to its constant monitoring of the user's computer activity”

Almost everything in Windows does this “In My Opinion” Especially if you use CoPilot.

Spunk · May 28, 2024

Recall is one of several new AI features that are going to require a Neural Processing Unit (NPU), which is a special kind of processor that has been optimized for machine learning and artificial intelligence operations.

Microsoft Reveals Recall, AI-Powered Search for Your PC

You’ll never need to remember anything ever again.

www.howtogeek.com

FreeBooter · May 28, 2024

As part of the privacy strategy, the Microsoft says that data generated using Recall will stay privately on the device. If you enable BitLocker on the computer, you can take advantage of encryption to protect your snapshots further.

Senecio · May 28, 2024

I'm thinking it's being rushed, and MS needs to spend a lot more time thinking through the risks. For anyone who wants a snapshot of the issues involved, this Webcast may help. (probably don't bother with all 17 minutes - the first 3 minutes will do). Why we don't like Microsoft's Windows Recall feature
So I went with 'Hm... Don't know'.

Dark Knight · May 28, 2024

Anything that monitors your pc activity is considered spyware , it's the very definition of the word.
Wouldn't it be hilarious if AV companies flagged it as malware ! ... LMAO

Graulges · May 28, 2024

Regardless of Microsoft's intentions, benign or not, there's going to be a lot of data available to be hacked by whoever can find a way in. Computer security becomes even more vitally important.

Ghot · May 28, 2024

Graulges said:
Regardless of Microsoft's intentions, benign or not, there's going to be a lot of data available to be hacked by whoever can find a way in. Computer security becomes even more vitally important.

And... Microsoft already "knows" the way in, whether they advertise that fact or not.

Dark Knight · May 28, 2024

Ghot said:
And... Microsoft already "knows" the way in, whether they advertise that fact or not.

PRISM still does not have enough information on everyone, they have PLENTY of server space to fill up!

OnScoobySnacks · May 28, 2024

Either way I use these registry settings and Windows on:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\Deprovisioned\MicrosoftWindows.Client.AIX_cw5n1h2txyewy]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsAI]
"DisableAIDataAnalysis"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot]
"TurnOffWindowsCopilot"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate]
"AllowTemporaryEnterpriseFeatureControl"=dword:00000000

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Appx]
"MdmHosts"=-

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\MDM]
"DisableRegistration"=dword:00000001
"AutoEnrollMDM"=dword:00000000

OSS

Geosammy · May 28, 2024

My data is my data; it's pretty simple.

If Microsoft want to use my data for anything, I need to agree to let them take whatever they like for free, or they need to pay me for it, but we all know the later isn't going to happen. It seems to me that Microsoft is pretty much openly stealing peoples data and getting away with it.

cereberus · May 28, 2024

Dark Knight said:
Anything that monitors your pc activity is considered spyware , it's the very definition of the word.
Wouldn't it be hilarious if AV companies flagged it as malware ! ... LMAO

No - anything that monitors your pc activity with intent to pass information to 3rd parties without your permission is spyware. That is not the case here.

Brink · May 28, 2024

You are able to disable Recall snapshots if you like.

Enable or Disable Recall Snapshots in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable saving Recall snapshots for your account or all users in Windows 11 on Copilot+ PCs. Starting with Windows 11 build 26120.2415 (Dev) on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, you can try out the Recall (Preview) feature. Starting with Windows 11...

www.elevenforum.com

Dark Knight · May 28, 2024

cereberus said:
No - anything that monitors your pc activity with intent to pass information to 3rd parties without your permission is spyware. That is not the case here.

You don't really believe that do you?

Brink said:
You are able to disable Recall snapshots if you like.

Enable or Disable Recall Snapshots in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable saving Recall snapshots for your account or all users in Windows 11 on Copilot+ PCs. Starting with Windows 11 build 26120.2415 (Dev) on Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs, you can try out the Recall (Preview) feature. Starting with Windows 11...

www.elevenforum.com

Simply disabling does not cut it and does not mean the program still cannot collect data in the background without ones knowledge. We are talking AI here, the only way it learns is by the amount of information it collects. An option to being able to completely uninstall it would be better , or better yet being given the choice of whether to install it or not during the update. Let's face it , most people don't want it and most will not use it either. The average home user will more than likely be oblivious to it on install , while it records .... *ahem* .... collects their information, surfing and computing habits

Geosammy · May 28, 2024

If I actually had data worth hiding, I wouldn't be using a Windows OS to try and keep it hidden in the first place.
It seems to me that Microsoft is going to continue doing whatever they want, regardless.

andrew129260 · May 29, 2024

Imagine recall being used on a cell phone. Would you feel comfortable with that feature? Even if you could disable it?

I think it makes a lot of sense people being uncomfortable with it.

I also see it as a huge security concern.

However, I don't take the side of Microsoft doing this to "spy" on you. I think its just a feature they can market about "AI". Because again, Privacy has not existed for a long time. Regardless of OS used. The average consumer is known about enough already with loads of tracking data. Having access to this will not change anything.

The average user will not know about it or really understand it, and it is spyware in a way. It's just meant for you. But it is "visual" spyware.

The Pool Man · May 29, 2024

No. It's not spyware. As long as Microsoft can be trusted not to exploit it as spyware. As long as malware doesn't exploit the information as spyware. The problem is I extend little trust in both directions.

The reason I don't trust Microsoft is that all their movies recently have been in the area of monetizing INTRUSIONware. Cortana, Widgets, AI -- all attempts to either force info our way we don't want or force our info towards profits. As Apple says, we are the product they're trying to sell.

The TELL that something is amiss here is why not simply offer Recall as an app in the Microsoft store? If it's such a great idea, people will download it themselves. Right?

We need Global Tech laws to end this type of behavior. If Microsoft wants to make money, they can do three things --

1. Sell their licences to OEMS
2. Ads on boot and lock screen but not within the OS, and that include search results
3. A User can buy their way out of ads annually for a fixed Gov't regulated price. (In America $7 a device per year.)

pparks1 · May 29, 2024

Sounds like avoiding a CoPilot+ PC for awhile is the way to go for non-trusting types.

johnlgalt · May 29, 2024

The program in and of itself is not one that we can readily point a finger at and say with complete conviction that it *is* spyware. After all, the spy part of spyware implies that it is doing this without you, the end user of the machine, knowing it.

It will only be usable on very specific hardware, for one thing, and you, the end user, can turn it off any time that you want. Its intentions are clear, as well as its usability.

Do you consider that your browser storing your history also spyware? As long as your session is open, unless you manually clear your history, it's all there - and not just a few days of it, either.

If you're gonna refer to Recall as spyware, then you might as well call every single browser out there spyware as well.

Microsoft’s AI ‘Recall’, spyware or not?

What do you think?

Yes

No

Hm.... don't know...

Blank, neither yes OR no

Crank it up... to 11!

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