The announcement of Windows Recall, the “photographic memory” of Windows 11, quickly became one of the topics of debate in the world of technology. As an idea, Recall is promising: having it remember everything we’ve done to be able to find any data is fantastic. But then came the problems.
Recall remembers everything. At the presentation of the Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft surprised not only with the promising features of these devices, initially based on the Snapdragon X Elite. The AI options attracted attention, and of all of them the one that did so the most was Recall. The function collects screenshots, analyzes and semantically indexes them, and then we can ask the system for any data. Their ability to respond to us is, at least as shown by Microsoft, amazing.
Privacy under examination. However, the option soon gave a lot of talk. Messages on social networks made it clear that many users were concerned about a potential privacy violation, and this despite the fact that Microsoft presented it indicating that it had put in place several mechanisms to protect it. We had to trust her, yes, and that was a challenge.
Cybersecurity disaster. Analysis by an independent researcher revealed that Recall’s operation was a privacy disaster. At the time of evaluation, Recall stored all its data in a plain text database, and furthermore, said information could be extracted even by users who were not administrators of the PC with that data.
Microsoft has stepped up. This analysis and the criticism made Microsoft react, and those responsible got to work to correct those detected errors. The result: three important changes that made it possible to address the main criticisms of its operation.
Recall delays your departure. Next week the first Copilot+ PCs will hit the market, but they will do so without Recall. According to those responsible on the official Microsoft blogthe company is delaying the availability of this feature in order to evaluate it as part of the Windows Insider program.
Prevention is better than cure. In Redmond they are clear that in the face of the avalanche of criticism it is better not to take risks and offer that option only when it is really prepared. “When the Recall preview is available in the Windows Insider Program, we will publish a blog post with details on how to access that preview.”
Microsoft needs time, and that’s a good thing. Some may be disappointed by the news. Recall is precisely one of the star features of the new Copilot+ PCs, but Microsoft’s decision is the most logical and reasonable. The company was trying to accelerate and include Recall next week in those devices that go on sale, but haste is not a good advisor. It will take a little longer to offer it, but without a doubt that extra time and the testing period by members of the Windows Insider program will allow greater evils to be avoided.
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