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Brave blocks Microsoft Recall by default

(brave.com)
290 points XzetaU8 | 11 comments | 23 Jul 25 09:33 UTC | HN request time: 0.001s | source | bottom
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varbhat ◴[23 Jul 25 11:32 UTC] No.44657995[source]▶
Until the time when Microsoft realises this and creates a privileged API just for Microsoft Recall so that It can see the screen.

Better switch to Linux. It's not perfect but I am sure that you will be fine using Linux(Unless you want to use Adobe Suite or Few Corporate applications which won't be used by many)

replies(5): >>44658202 #>>44658215 #>>44658253 #>>44658615 #>>44659205 #
bitexploder ◴[23 Jul 25 12:03 UTC] No.44658253[source]▶
You have to opt in to Recall. You must have a “Copilot+ PC” which has an “NPU”. The snapshots are stored and processed locally.
replies(6): >>44658370 #>>44659253 #>>44659709 #>>44659725 #>>44659739 #>>44660062 #
1. falcor84 ◴[23 Jul 25 12:17 UTC] No.44658370[source]▶
> The snapshots are stored and processed locally.

Even if that's the design, it's a massive new attack surface for malware to try to exfiltrate.

replies(1): >>44658659 #
2. roetlich ◴[23 Jul 25 12:52 UTC] No.44658659[source]▶
Then don't turn it on?
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3. falcor84 ◴[23 Jul 25 12:56 UTC] No.44658706[source]▶
Oh, I won't, but MS has the unfortunate recurring habit of turning features on against users' will, at best giving the option to "Remind me in 3 days".
replies(1): >>44659091 #
4. wlesieutre ◴[23 Jul 25 13:35 UTC] No.44659091{3}[source]▶
Or the old "oops we installed an upgrade and accidentally flipped your setting by on purpose not having QA"

I don't know how many times I've had to tell Windows that I don't want Edge to be my default browser and OneDrive should not open at login.

replies(1): >>44660194 #
5. jug ◴[23 Jul 25 14:16 UTC] No.44659495[source]▶
Better yet, how about not making visual keylogger code part of the OS to begin with.

I’d be pretty nervous about running Windows with this even able to be enabled.

No way the benefit:risk ratio makes the slightest sense in this case.

6. Eggpants ◴[23 Jul 25 14:54 UTC] No.44659894[source]▶
This “feature” was made for corporate owned window machines, who will force it enabled via policies.
replies(2): >>44660091 #>>44676876 #
7. falcor84 ◴[23 Jul 25 15:09 UTC] No.44660091{3}[source]▶
Exactly, and I think that the real goal is for enterprises (and MS itself) to collect training data for Computer Use AI agents.
8. hbn ◴[23 Jul 25 15:18 UTC] No.44660194{4}[source]▶
My "favorite" tactless Windows update story in recent memory was when an update pinned a Copilot link to my taskbar. I unpinned it, then a few weeks later another update added the Copilot link back to my taskbar, but not as a pinned app. Rather it replaced the god damn "show desktop" button in the bottom right of the screen! They replaced an always on-screen OS navigation button that's been there since Windows 7 with an ad!!

I hope to god that Valve takes the opportunity they have with Steam OS to give us a potential real alternative to Windows that focuses on gaming support. Cause that's literally the only reason I'm forced to continue using this Microsoft adware slop of an OS.

replies(1): >>44660475 #
9. pickledoyster ◴[23 Jul 25 15:41 UTC] No.44660475{5}[source]▶
> They replaced an always on-screen OS navigation button that's been there since Windows 7 with an ad!!

That must be doing wonders for the click rate. I can see the pre-promotion powerpoint slide now: "User engagement with Copilot is showing exponential growth"

replies(1): >>44663070 #
10. wlesieutre ◴[23 Jul 25 19:34 UTC] No.44663070{6}[source]▶
Promotions all around! Line goes up and all it cost was continuing to make even more of our customers hate our product and our company!
11. contextfree ◴[24 Jul 25 22:05 UTC] No.44676876{3}[source]▶
There is currently no policy setting to do this. The available policy settings are "disable Recall and do not allow users to enable it" (which is the default) and "allow users to enable Recall, but leave it disabled by default".