Seattle, Washington – Microsoft is set to introduce a new AI feature called “Windows Recall” on the latest Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs this month. This feature is designed to remember users’ actions on their computers and facilitate searching through semantic search technology.
Since its announcement on May 20, the Windows Recall AI feature has attracted criticism for its data security measures. While Microsoft assured users that Recall collects data locally and encrypts it using Bitlocker, security researcher Kevin Beaumount discovered that the data is stored in an SQLite plaintext database, leaving it vulnerable when users are logged into their computers.
Despite the potential security risks, Windows Recall has been praised for its effectiveness in indexing content for easy retrieval. However, concerns remain about the lack of encryption for data stored on the PC while in use, leaving it exposed to potential malware threats.
To address these security issues, Microsoft may need to enhance the data encryption protocols for Recall in the future. Currently, the feature is only available on new Copilot+ PCs and will not be integrated into existing Windows 11 installations.
While some users have expressed apprehension about the implications of Recall’s data collection on privacy, Microsoft has emphasized that the feature is optional and can be disabled at any time. Additionally, built-in security measures are in place to prevent unauthorized activation of Recall without user consent.
Moving forward, Microsoft may need to address users’ concerns by implementing stronger security measures to protect the data collected by Windows Recall. Enhancing encryption protocols and ensuring transparent communication about data privacy could help build trust among users of the new feature.