- Brave and AdGuard have decided to block Windows Recall, Microsoft's AI-based "photographic memory" feature.
- Both apps believe Recall poses a privacy risk by periodically capturing screenshots of user activity.
- Brave limits Recall's access within the browser by simulating incognito sessions, while AdGuard blocks it system-wide.
- The move responds to widespread concerns and criticism about the lack of control and protection of personal data in Windows 11.
The arrival of functions driven by Artificial Intelligence to operating systems and applications has revolutionized the way we interact with computers, but also has raised concerns about user privacyOne of the most controversial examples in recent times is Windows Recall, a feature introduced by Microsoft in Windows 11 that It allows you to take screenshots of everything that happens on your computer to generate a kind of “photographic memory”. Despite its potential to improve user experience, more and more voices They are positioned against its use.
Recently, Both the Brave browser and the AdGuard ad blocker have decided to block access and operation of this tool., thus joining other services such as Signal, which had already implemented similar measures. The main objective es protect privacy of its users and prevent their activities from being recorded without their consent every few seconds.
Reasons behind Brave and AdGuard blocking Windows Recall
The decision by Brave and AdGuard comes after the debate generated in the technology community Regarding the risks involved in a function that saves periodic snapshots of the screen, including data sensitive such as passwords, card numbers, or private messages. According to both companies in their official publications, the idea that an operating system can store private details in the background it turns out "disturbing» and does not offer sufficient security guarantees, despite the latest updates made by Microsoft.
In fact, although Microsoft has tried to introduce new protections in Recall, such as filtering sensitive data or activating the feature via PIN or biometric recognition, both Brave and AdGuard considering insufficient these measures and believe that There is no real barrier to unauthorized access to the captured information.
How each app works to avoid Recall monitoring
The two companies have adopted different approaches to block Recall.
- In the case of Brave, the Navigator "tricks" the operating system into identifying all windows and tabs as private browsing, which causes Recall does not record screenshots while using the browser, even in conventional mode. Only the user can decide whether to manually enable this feature from the settings.
- For its part, AdGuard has opted for a method that affects the entire Windows system. The latest version of its software incorporates automatic locking of the process responsible for indexing the screenshots, cutting off the collection of visual information in the background, both on the desktop and in any application.
The Signal precedent and the difficulties for developers
Before the reaction of Brave and AdGuard, the secure messaging platform Signal I had already set restrictions so that Recall could not take screenshots of your chats.To achieve this, it uses mechanisms similar to those for protection against piracy (DRM), although this may affect accessibility tools and the functionality of other applications that require access to screenshots.
A recurring criticism is that Microsoft did not provide developers with sufficiently granular controls to manage Recall behavior in their own apps, forcing many to seek unconventional alternatives to protect their users' privacy.
Availability and reactions in the technology industry
Windows Recall It is only available on specific devices known as Copilot+ PCs with Windows 11, equipped with special hardware such as an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) capable of achieving certain performance requirements. Although Recall is disabled by default on these devices and user-friendly settings have been added, concerns about possible misuse or accidental activation remain among security experts and privacy-focused companies alike.
The technology community has expressed widespread rejection of the idea that an operating system can monitor and save images so comprehensively, even though it is promised that the data is only stored locally. AdGuard points out that leave back doors open and trusting in the good faith of big tech is not enough to protect privacy of the users.
Developers and privacy experts agree that as the use of artificial intelligence increases, it is It is essential to have mechanisms that allow users to have control over their data and prevent unauthorized access.Thanks to the measures implemented by Brave and AdGuard, users have additional tools to decide whether they want their daily activity to be logged by the operating system.
The controversy surrounding Windows Recall exemplifies how technological advancement can collide head-on with the fundamental principles of digital privacyWhile Microsoft continues to refine and expand its artificial intelligence capabilities, pressure from developers, experts, and users has forced the emergence of alternative mechanisms to curb indiscriminate access to data.
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