Microsoft Recall Update

Week update after checking more systems and what the feature actually does .

[rich]

For those who might wonder why just disabling the feature is not enough: when Microsoft releases big feature updates or even just a cumulative fix pack, there is a risk that previously disabled features get turned back on. You're unlikely to read through what each bugfix is going to do to your system.
Ok, but then if you remove the feature you should be safe, right? Not necessarily. For anyone who have had windows issues before, you've probably come across a helpful response to use the "sfc" and "dism" commands which can repair issues on your system, by replacing missing or corrupt files with the original ones from the windows image. If Recall is a dependency for file explorer, these commands may just "repair" this feature too.

[skraddarn]

Actively preventing users from deactivating a feature is a very effective way to tell everyone that you're up to something sketchy.

[loueyx]

Microsoft: Introducing Recall.
Users: HELL NO
Microsoft: Fine we'll just hide it from you

[bryede]

Remember way back when Microsoft tied IE into file explorer to keep you from being able to remove it? That should tell you how important Recall is to M$.

[sujimayne]

Every new generation of PC users gets surprised and learns about Microsoft's ways, thinking "oh my god, why is Microsoft like this?" when Microsoft has been doing this since the '90s. It's like a rite of passage.

[Splarkszter]

It's not a bug. It's their intention.

[michaeleber]

I was a part of the Microsoft technical testing team back in the Windows 95 days. When they came out with the new Internet Explorer they forced it down everyone's throat by making the desktop dependent on it. Sound familiar? They pick what people need and make their trash dependent on it so you can't get rid of it without getting rid of what you use all the time. Disgusting.

[trichlorophenate]

Recall not as in re-call, but as in rec-all

[LordDementus]

I sent a cease and desist email to Microsoft. This is not acceptable and I will lawyer up. They own the rights to the software, not to the copy of the software on my machine. They do not have a right to put this on my machine without my knowledge.

[homemetalstudios]

imagine all the money they are going to make selling your screenshot activity to every marketing/ad agency on the planet for pennies on the dollar. this is an absolute gold mine for them and i doubt they will just let it go.

[moetocafe]

It's not a bug, it's a "feature". It's policy. They've turned Win into full grade spyware. The fact File Explorer doesn't work after removing this "feature" tells you just how deeply rooted it is in the OS. This is by design, it cannot be a mistake, it's so clear.

[jon]

Recall is basically first-party malware.

[XeonProductions]

This is just getting ridiculous. The windows telemetry was bad enough, now they're just getting as invasive as possible. I don't believe for a minute those screenshots will remain local.

[JohnJacobson]

I don't know what to think now if this is good or bad but if it is suspicious I just hope my Windows doesn't start having problems

[Piano_Castle]

Most comforting words ever seen on my screen: "Your computer isn't able to run Windows 11".

[SpicyD_]

Absolutely insane. Dont get how companies, especially security focused ones, arent screaming from the top of their lungs. The guys i am consulting currently are experimenting with completely switching over to linux for 8 months now and it looks promising so far, there really isnt much choice left i fear.

[pvalpha]

This level of embedding tells me that 1) Recall is going to be turned on by default in upcoming windows releases. 2) Microsoft will eventually look to harvest recall information from the PCs with it enabled (probably through OneDrive "backups"), and 3) eventually it will be in business and home users' windows deployments and it will become increasingly difficult to disable for any length of time and impossible to completely remove without replacing a lot of components with 3rd party solutions.

Given the world we live in, its looking increasingly likely that Microsoft absolutely sees the loss of trust as absolutely worth the potential information gain.

[crazymonkeyVII]

So basically, they implemented a dummy to let people think "oh, but it isn't actually doing anything, it's just a dud" and then at some point in the future when people are used to it they'll activate that on some random update without telling us. Got it.

[neurocosm]

I am baffled that there isn't some sort of lawsuit stemming from this.

[andrewcopple]

I've never wanted a replacement for Windows more. I wish Windows 7 was still an option.