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Microsoft to delay release of Recall AI feature on security concerns

reuters.com

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Re: Microsoft to delay release of Recall AI feature on security concerns

#411

Post by soraminazuki »

simonw wrote: post #90
segasaturn wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My takeaway is that Microsoft has been trying to boil the frog, but slipped and turned the temperature up too quickly. They're retreating for now, but make no mistake that Recall will slowly trickle back into Windows under another name. Every major power broker wants something like Recall to become the norm - bosses to spy on their employees, governments to spy on their citizens/enemies, and tech CEO's to collect tra…

This is a very cynical take. I've not seen anything to make me think this feature is intended for surveillance as opposed to personal utility. The personal utility benefits are very clear to me - the problem is the ease with which malicious attackers might steal the data (if they can breach the system).

Cynicism? Mind you, what the GP described is exactly what Microsoft has been doing for the past decade. It's not cynicism, it's extensively documented fact.

# Privacy Violations

Windows 11 Update 23H2 is stealing users' IMAP credentials - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38212453

I noticed some disturbing privacy defaults in Windows 10 - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9976298

Even when told not to, Windows 10 doesn't stop talking to Microsoft - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10053352

# User Interference and Coercion

Microsoft has removed the “use offline account” option when installing Windows - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21103683

Microsoft intercepting Firefox, Chrome installation on Windows 10 Insider build - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17967243

Outlook now ignores Windows' Default Browser and opens links in Edge by default - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36492329

Microsoft blocks EdgeDeflector to force Windows 11 users into Edge - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29251210

Microsoft has not stopped forcing Edge on Windows 11 users - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37461449

Windows 11 Officially Shuts Down Firefox’s Default Browser Workaround - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29579994

Last Windows 11 update changed all default browser settings to Edge - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30055222

Microsoft tests Windows account menu error badge when Microsoft Account not used - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35443361

Removing “Annoying” Windows 10 Features Is a DMCA Violation, Microsoft Says - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23486887

# Ads

Windows Now Showing Full-Screen Ads - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11167964

Why can an ad break the Windows 11 desktop and taskbar? - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28404332

Windows 10 nagging users with Bing advertisements - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27337382

Microsoft begins showing an anti-Firefox ad in the Windows 10 start menu - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22288599

Windows 10 Tip: Turn Off File Explorer Advertising - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13835733

# Unwanted Features

Windows needs to stop showing tabloid news - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=35323121

Re: Microsoft to delay release of Recall AI feature on security concerns

#413

Post by globular-toast »

999900000999 wrote: post #104
nimbius wrote: post #63

In summary: the only customers that matter --corporations paying site licenses-- declared this to be an unacceptable business risk. Anyone who is still using windows in 2024 and isnt a multinational business or llc gets what they deserve.

What if you can't afford a Mac, and you're not technically literate enough to install Ubuntu ? Speaking for myself, I dual boot mint and windows because I really like playing games and making music. Both of those are absolutely subpar on Linux. Outside of our nerd bubble, most normal people don't really want to run desktop Linux. Macs are great, but I can't really game on them.

GNU/Linux is easier than Windows. Present two new users with each and they'll find Linux easier. The technically literate part usually comes down to them having a PC with their data already on it. That's where you come in to help your friends back up their data so they can easily move between computers and OSes.

Re: Microsoft to delay release of Recall AI feature on security concerns

#414

Post by Nition »

TillE wrote: post #358
MP_1729 wrote: post #136

Satya Nadella's Microsoft is such a weird company. It's like there's one side of it that is running with Zuckerberg's "move fast and break things" and the other side is saying "wait, we're the most important software company in the world! Things can't break!"

One side is open-sourcing .NET and VS Code and running GitHub well and making vcpkg. The other is crapping up Windows with embarrassing ad-ridden F2P games. It's really weird.

One side preserving backwards compatibility through the past 30 years, the other replacing the taskbar and losing half the features.

Re: Microsoft to delay release of Recall AI feature on security concerns

#415

Post by rsynnott »

iLoveOncall wrote: post #40
oefrha wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When did Apple announce they’re going to start taking screenshots of entire screens and storing them? Windows has had a (crappy) unified search “across all apps” for years and there’s been no backlash AFAIK.

They didn't, and they wouldn't. Yet, for all we know and ever will know, it's exactly how their feature might work. The only reason people aren't outraged at Apple is because they won't be able to access the directory with all the screenshots unlike on Windows. Both implementations are awful. Apple's one is probably the worst one actually, because it sends some data to Apple's servers for processing (probably most),…

> Yet, for all we know and ever will know, it's exactly how their feature might work.

… Wait, how do you think they’d keep _that_ one secret?

Re: Microsoft to delay release of Recall AI feature on security concerns

#416

Post by rsynnott »

skilled wrote: post #60

And why the corporate speak? They messed up and that’s the end of it. Where is the acknowledgement of getting owned two days after announcement? Where is the acknowledgment of having an understanding of the issues this poses and how they are going to address them? Make no mistake that this feature was in development for a long time, with resources allocated to it. And throughout all that process, Microsoft thought th…

> And throughout all that process, Microsoft thought this is a great and safe feature for the users.

I’m fairly sure plenty of people in Microsoft would have realised that this was a terrible feature. But sometimes, it is easier to just let emperors go shopping for new clothes.

Re: Microsoft to delay release of Recall AI feature on security concerns

#417

Post by hbn »

Narishma wrote: post #371
hbn wrote: post #290

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I literally have to "set up my computer" like 10 times a year now every time there's a seemingly "big enough" update, and it's just carefully navigating menus trying to get me to sign up for Microsoft services and trick me into switching to Edge A couple updates ago they put a bunch of new shit on my lock screen, like stocks and news articles or something, which I disabled immediately. And then the last update made m…

I got tired of that shit years ago and switched to PS5 for gaming and Debian for everything else.

I do have a PS5 but I prefer purchasing games on Steam if I have the option since I know those games are practically guaranteed to be forward compatible long term. I’d love to ditch Windows though. I hope Valve continues to make progress with Linux gaming with the Steam Deck.

Re: Microsoft to delay release of Recall AI feature on security concerns

#418

Post by freehorse »

kilolima wrote: post #263
generic92034 wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or you are living in a country where worker rights prevent causeless mass surveillance of employees.

Workplace surveillance of employees became widespread in part because of sexual harassment laws, employers suddenly had to protect themselves from litigation. See: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/first/r/ro...

The linked article does not support what you say in any way. If anything, it argues that invasion of privacy can actually be used against somebody by getting things out of context. It is definitely not what the link talks about, spending 1/3 of the text writing about how wrongfully invasion of privacy was used during Clinton's impeachment. Maybe you meant to share something else?

Re: Microsoft to delay release of Recall AI feature on security concerns

#419

Post by userbinator »

quickthrowman wrote: post #135
nimbius wrote: post #63

In summary: the only customers that matter --corporations paying site licenses-- declared this to be an unacceptable business risk. Anyone who is still using windows in 2024 and isnt a multinational business or llc gets what they deserve.

I work for an S-Corp with ~500 office employees and high nine-figure revenue (in dollars). All of our industry specific software is only available on Windows.

Time to try WINE.

Re: Microsoft to delay release of Recall AI feature on security concerns

#420

Post by kmlx »

neogodless wrote: post #71

I'm a bit confused by the headline chosen for the submission (but the update doesn't do much to clarify). The original is this: Update on the Recall preview feature for Copilot+ PCs > Recall will now shift from a preview experience broadly available for Copilot+ PCs on June 18, 2024, to a preview available first in the Windows Insider Program (WIP) in the coming weeks. To be clear, it may be delayed for public releas…

> Copilot+ PCs

not being accustomed with microsoft products i initially read this as copilot “plus” pcs.

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