0
0
Microsoft Delays Recall Feature Once Again
Microsoft has announced that it will be delaying its controversial Recall feature once again. The news comes from an updated blog post by Windows and Devices VP Pavan Davuluri. According to Davuluri, when the feature does return “in the coming weeks,” it will be available as a preview for PCs in the Windows Insider Program. This program serves as the public testing and validation pipeline for all Windows features before their general release.
What is Recall?
Recall is a new AI feature for Windows 11 that will be exclusive to PCs meeting the requirements of Microsoft’s “Copilot+ PC” program. These PCs must have a minimum of 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of at least 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS). Initially, only PCs with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Plus and X Elite Arm chips will meet these requirements, with Intel and AMD processors becoming compatible later this year. Apart from Recall, Copilot+ PCs come with other generative AI features, although Recall’s security issues have dominated discussions.
The Windows Insider preview of Recall will also mandate PCs to meet Copilot+ requirements. However, third-party scripts might enable Recall on PCs lacking the necessary hardware. More details on this will emerge when Recall resurfaces.
Recall’s Security Concerns
Recall functions by capturing periodic screenshots of a PC and saving them to disk. It then scans these screenshots with OCR technology to create a searchable text database, aiding users in finding previously viewed content on their PCs. However, during testing, it was found that this data was saved without encryption or additional protection, making it accessible to any user or attacker with PC access. Recall was also set to be enabled by default on Copilot+ PCs, potentially jeopardizing user privacy.
Following security researcher Kevin Beaumont’s publicizing of these vulnerabilities, Microsoft pledged to enhance encryption and authentication measures and disable Recall by default. Originally scheduled for release this week, Recall’s rollout to Copilot+ PCs has been postponed.
Security vs. New Features
Microsoft’s Recall delay aligns with President Brad Smith’s recent testimony to Congress regarding the company’s security failures. As part of Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative (SFI), Smith emphasized prioritizing security over new AI features. The company has increased security personnel and linked executive compensation to security objectives.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reinforced this stance in an internal memo, emphasizing security as the top priority. The Recall feature encapsulates Microsoft’s recent narratives, merging rapid generative AI releases, security lapses, and Windows 11’s user interface issues.
Image/Photo credit: source url
