Microsoft backtracks, will allow uninstalling the controversial Windows Recall function

A few months ago, Microsoft left everyone with their mouths open when it presented Windows Recall. An artificial intelligence feature that completely destroys users’ privacy. After a storm of criticism, it seems that the mess is being fixed, if it can be fixed…

Windows Recall was going to be one of the “star” features of Copilot+, the AI ​​built into PCs with artificial intelligence chips, such as its new Surface computers.

At first Windows Recall was enabled by defaultalthough Microsoft allowed it to be disabled, but not uninstalled. In an update that came out a couple of days ago, backs off and finally allows to eliminate it completely. Which is what most users will do.

Windows Recall can be uninstalled

Windows Recall has only been distributed in beta format so far, Take a screenshot of your desktop every 30 secondsso that an AI can analyze it and then help you find things.

From a technical point of view, it is quite questionable.Except for certain users and specific tasks, most people only need to search for something they did, at specific times.

It doesn’t seem practical to always have a feature enabled that takes screenshots every 30 seconds, consuming CPU resources and a lot of hard drive space, just to quickly find that website you used last week, or that document you want to review.

Leaving aside the technical aspects, The biggest criticism has come from the privacy sideSecurity experts were shocked to discover that Those captures were not encryptedand a simple hack was enough to access the images and steal personal data, passwords, emails, websites you visit and, ultimately, everything you do with your PC.

With various updates, Microsoft has been increasing the privacyby accessing that content only with fingerprint or facial recognition, preventing the content from leaving the PC, etc.

But still, many people won’t be comfortable knowing that Windows 11 takes a snapshot of everything you do every 30 seconds (you can exclude certain apps), and letting an AI analyze it. The option to uninstall Windows Recall is the most sensible onealthough it is not yet official. It is in beta, but it remains to be seen whether it will make it into the final version.

For my part, I have it clear: Windows Recall will go to the trash, the first day it appears on my computer.

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Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft, Windows 11