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Microsoft will switch off Recall by default after security backlash

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Re: Microsoft will switch off Recall by default after security backlash

#91
post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People will opt-in to it during setup the same way people opt-in to logging in via a Microsoft account instead of a local account.

Local accounts are almost impossible to set up for the normal user in win11

That's the hidden joke. In early Win10 it used to be a simple dark-pattern screen with a prominent button "use a Microsoft account" and a text link in the corner "use a local account". Then they made it increasingly ridiculous with subsequent updates until the current point where you need a tutorial on how to even make the option visible.

Re: Microsoft will switch off Recall by default after security backlash

#92

It is puzzling to me that so many people seem to think this concept has no value. To me the concept is obviously good and something I have wanted for a long time. Of course the security of the implementation is important and I agree with some of the criticism there. But I see a lot of people arguing that the feature is worthless, or that it doesn't make sense at the OS level, or that Microsoft specifically should not…

Hmm. I think I can respond here.

No one is really saying this feature has no value. For a user, there is value to being able to get to a previous point in time. That feature, however, is clearly not very well designed and implemented if it took days for it to be cracked on the internet for everyone to see. If I could trust that it STAYS local, maybe I would be less paranoid. But this is MS we are talking about.

Personally, I am glad this thing was created. It may be finally make people hesitate over the evolution of PCs.

Re: Microsoft will switch off Recall by default after security backlash

#93
post #32

without seeing an actual data file created by recall, i would expect it to quickly become large. if so, i would not keep it on a system drive, when you can store it externally, to be plugged in when the owner feels they actually need recall data, and left physically out of band when its wise to do so

how would the recall data get expanded if it is not plugged in all the time? hopefully you can see while it's not designed that way

Re: Microsoft will switch off Recall by default after security backlash

#94
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It will be re-enabled accidentally by an update anyways.

Please stop with these kinds of made up fantasy scenarios. There's no such thing as "accidental enablement" for stuff like this, as if it's a switch every employee at Microsoft has access to, and one of them one day can end up flipping by accident with their elbow and it ends up in production without anyone else noticing. Either they decide to intentionally enable it or not. There are no accidents , when stuff like t…

Yet despite all that I've witnessed accidents still make it in production...

Re: Microsoft will switch off Recall by default after security backlash

#95

I still don't understand how this got this far. Enabling this in any corporate setting would be a compliance nightmare.

I bet there are a trillion companies and governments who want to know what all of their employees are doing every second of the workday. compliance won't stop them from trying.

Re: Microsoft will switch off Recall by default after security backlash

#97

All I can say is LOL. Off by default for Windows 11 24H2, on by default in Windows 11 25H2, impossible to disable in Windows 11 26H2 (except in enterprise versions of course). Microsoft's history with respecting the user's wishes speaks for itself.

Not to mention all the dark pattern lying nag dialogs that will trick you into turning it on, or just wear you down.

I saw a yellow dot alert next to the restart/shutdown button on my Windows machine the other day. Those historically indicate a request to restart to apply critical updates. But no, it was a message recommending I sign into a Microsoft account.

That was the last straw for me when it comes to Windows BS---designs that only serve Microsoft, and disrespects all the other times I've said no to their crap. I switched everything over to Linux the next day.

Re: Microsoft will switch off Recall by default after security backlash

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Total Recall", aka "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale"

"Total Recall" in quotes makes me think you're trying to get your ass back to Mars and that you're trying to remember something because you had your memories wiped. It makes me think of nothing about a friendly service being offered forcefully upon you from your friendly and malevolent OS provider.

It's a story about false memories, and how that can change your identity. Regardless, it's the first thing I thought of when I heard about the feature.

Re: Microsoft will switch off Recall by default after security backlash

#99

It is puzzling to me that so many people seem to think this concept has no value. To me the concept is obviously good and something I have wanted for a long time. Of course the security of the implementation is important and I agree with some of the criticism there. But I see a lot of people arguing that the feature is worthless, or that it doesn't make sense at the OS level, or that Microsoft specifically should not…

Hmm. I think I can respond here. No one is really saying this feature has no value. For a user, there is value to being able to get to a previous point in time. That feature, however, is clearly not very well designed and implemented if it took days for it to be cracked on the internet for everyone to see. If I could trust that it STAYS local, maybe I would be less paranoid. But this is MS we are talking about. Perso…

Indeed since this is MS you can guarantee this is just a another step in them expanding their ability to monitor your habits for further monetization.

Re: Microsoft will switch off Recall by default after security backlash

#100
post #59
post #46

I only have a windows partition for games. I would occasionally use it for other stuff because it's sometimes inconvenient to switch back and forth. After recall, I'm only using it for gaming and nothing else.

I'm surprised by how good proton is at running windows games on steamdeck. Because of this and nonsense like recall and the adverts in windows I'm considering just getting rid of windows all together, I'll just run mint Linux probably.

I run Ubuntu on nearly all of my machines, but I build it up manually from the Ubuntu Server installation to reduce bloat. If anyone was going to have problems with Proton on an Ubuntu machine, it's me. Yet, every game I've tried works fine. Everything from Among Us to Metro Exodus runs great.

Some games require a little fiddling, sure, but I've never had an issue that couldn't be resolved using some copy-pasting from ProtonDB. As you may have surmised from the way I set up my machines, I may have a higher tolerance for fiddling than most folks. YMMV.

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