Microsoft addresses Windows Recall backlash, promises to fix security issues and make it opt-in

[Windows Central]

Microsoft has today announced that it is addressing recent backlash around Windows Recall after it was discovered the feature stores data unencrypted on the device.

Microsoft addresses Windows Recall backlash, promises to fix security issues and make it opt-in : Read more

 

[ShinyProton]

Pretty solid modifications.
Yet, the press and bloggers crowd will find a way to vomit on the feature again - as they decided it's bad prior to its release.

Meanwhile, the mitigation measures announced should have been there day one.

 

[GraniteStateColin]

Pretty solid modifications.
Yet, the press and bloggers crowd will find a way to vomit on the feature again - as they decided it's bad prior to its release.

Meanwhile, the mitigation measures announced should have been there day one.

Yeah, pretty much agree with you on this. The criticisms about MS taking and using the data are not addressed at all by this, but of course that was never a valid concern anyway, so what can MS do to address an issue that doesn't exist?

If you're spouse accuses you of cheating, and you're not, there's not a lot you can do to fix things. Other than, as Zac already pointed out for how MS sort of set themselves up for this, always do things that engender trust and be transparent.

Perhaps their taking these steps helps demonstrate that the concern is not MS getting the data, but just security of the data on-device. I'm curious to see the reactions in the coming hours and days.

Especially for those who have already established their argument as, "MS can steal your data, even if not now, then in the future." Once someone stakes a position, they usually don't just abandon it without compelling proof to the contrary, because they want to save face. Key with them is to get to them BEFORE they announce their position.

 

[Arun Topez]

Pretty solid modifications.
Yet, the press and bloggers crowd will find a way to vomit on the feature again - as they decided it's bad prior to its release.

Meanwhile, the mitigation measures announced should have been there day one.

If the press and bloggers and users didn't "vomit" on the feature, then they wouldn't have made these changes. As AI and privacy and security become increasingly important with how intrusive technology is getting, it's extremely important to hold all tech companies building these tools accountable to ensure they're not taking advantage of users (especially the majority of users who are non-techy and unaware of what the feature is doing in the background), and potentially putting them in danger.

So if it's still deserved after these changes, then yes they should continue to "vomit" and call out privacy issues.

 

[naddy69]

This is all so typical of Microsoft. Security/privacy is an afterthought. Why did it take people in the press screaming about this for MS to decide to encrypt this data? And Recall was going to be enabled by default?

What were they thinking?

Easy prediction: "Copilot" PCs are not going to sell very well. Sellers will actively steer people away from them. The name "Copilot" will become - indeed is already becoming - synonymous with spyware.

I would also expect to see ads from HP/Lenovo/Dell/whoever stating they will continue to build/sell non-"Copilot" PCs. I guarantee you that there are some meetings scheduled for Monday morning about whether to back away from the "Copilot" branding.

The more I learn about this nightmare technology, the more I am convinced that running Windows 11 in a VM on a Mac is a good idea. None of this stuff is ever going to bother me.

 

[johnnypop]

Pretty solid modifications.
Yet, the press and bloggers crowd will find a way to vomit on the feature again - as they decided it's bad prior to its release.

Meanwhile, the mitigation measures announced should have been there day one.

Microsoft shouldn't even include it without the user's express permission to download it, and users should be able to remove it outright from their system (not just turn it off, or disable it, or ignore it, or hide it).

To that end, "the press and bloggers crowd" should escalate their pressure against Microsoft.

 

[Jack Pipsam]

Pretty solid modifications.
Yet, the press and bloggers crowd will find a way to vomit on the feature again - as they decided it's bad prior to its release.

Meanwhile, the mitigation measures announced should have been there day one.

Without pressure from the press and users, these mitigations would have never been put in and Microsoft would have launched a frankly dangerous product on unaware users.

The pressure needs to remain up to ensure the best outcomes. Apathy is a crime.

 

[TheFerrango]

Promises promises, we'll see. It's definitely a step forward