What you need to know
- Microsoft has detailed how it’s improved Recall’s security with encryption and Windows Hello authentication.
- Recall’s data is now isolated in a VBS Enclave, meaning it’s no longer readable by third-party apps and users.
- Snapshots will now automatically filter out sensitive information like passwords and credit card details.
- Recall never uploads data to the cloud, and can be uninstalled from the system if you don’t want it.
As a tech enthusiast with a decade of experience under my belt, I must say that Microsoft’s latest updates to Windows Recall have caught my attention. Having witnessed the initial rocky launch of this feature, it’s refreshing to see the company addressing concerns and strengthening security measures.
Microsoft will soon reveal its strategy for enhancing Windows Recall to provide a secure and hack-proof user experience. Following the significant setback experienced during the initial launch of Recall, the company is now assured that Recall offers a reliable and trustworthy platform for users.
Initially, a feature called Windows Recall was found to save data without encryption, which made it vulnerable to hackers looking to steal sensitive information gathered during the Recall process. However, Microsoft has since addressed this issue by implementing encryption for the data and requiring users to be actively logged in to access it.
The company has published a detailed article detailing all the security improvements it’s making to Windows Recall, but it boils down to four key changes:
- Recall data is now stored in an encrypted state in isolation via a VBS Enclave
- Snapshots will now automatically filter out passwords, credit cards, and national IDs
- Access to Recall data requires Windows Hello authentication every time
- Recall is optional, off by default, and can be uninstalled
Currently, the Recall feature is only accessible via Copilot+ PC and needs a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) capable of delivering at least 40 TeraOps (TOPS). Consequently, the majority of personal computers may not meet the requirements to utilize Recall. However, Microsoft has addressed primary concerns about Recall, such as its data storage method, by ensuring that it saves data locally on your device.
Currently, any information that Recall accumulates gets safeguarded within an encrypted VBS Enclave, which functions like a secure, virtual safe-keeping unit detached from the main system. This means that the data contained within it remains inaccessible unless a decryption key is available, and that key is only provided by the Recall app after successful authentication using Windows Hello.
According to David Weston, Microsoft’s VP of Enterprise and OS Security, speaking with Windows Central, he emphasized that anything sensitive is consistently encrypted and the associated keys are rigorously safeguarded. Specifically, the Recall processes such as screenshots, screenshot processing, and vector database are now housed within a Virtual Secure Enclave. Essentially, the Recall system has been enclosed in a virtual machine, thereby ensuring that even administrative users cannot manipulate the VM, execute any code, or access its data.
This modification significantly enhances Recall’s data storage security, making certain that the information it gathers is securely stored on your device and can only be accessed by you. In fact, Microsoft won’t have access to the data saved by Recall in the VBS Enclave, regardless of their intentions. Moreover, Recall will restrict access to encrypted data, preventing potential malware from trying to force its way through the Recall app using brute force methods.
“Now, Recall demands the user’s presence to unlock any data using Windows Hello. This implies that even if an intruder gains physical control of your device, the information protected by Recall remains inaccessible unless you are personally present at your computer.
Weston goes on to explain: “The encryption keys are kept securely within the Trusted Platform Module (TPM). They can only be accessed through a biometric verification. These keys remain inside the protected area called the enclave at all times. Anything deemed sensitive, such as your screenshots or vector database, is stored there. It’s only shared outside of this secure area in limited amounts, following user authorization and after a specific query has been made.
Beyond ensuring the safe storage of data on your computer, Microsoft has introduced a novel feature to the snapshot process. This feature will automatically and locally screen out confidential details like passwords, identification numbers, and credit card info using Purview. Consequently, if an intruder managed to temporarily breach the VBS Enclave, they would find it hard to uncover sensitive information.
Furthermore, let me emphasize that the images captured and the associated data are not transferred to any cloud storage. Instead, Recall functions solely within the device itself, which was a commitment Microsoft made when introducing Recall back in May, and they continue to uphold this commitment now.
Weston assures me that none of the gathered information leaves your device. To clarify, Microsoft doesn’t have the ability to decrypt this data, even if they wanted to. All that gets sent back is diagnostic usage for bug fixes and user-controlled feedback. In other words, Recall ensures that the data you provide remains within your device, giving you control over its deletion whenever necessary.
The major update for Recall is that its entire operation can now be freely chosen and is switched off by default. When setting up a Copilot+ PC, users will be invited to turn it on, but if they opt out, Recall will stay deactivated. Moreover, Microsoft has mentioned that users have the option to delete Recall from their system if they prefer not to have it as part of their OS.
As a tech enthusiast, I can assure you that Microsoft doesn’t seem to be planning on automatically activating Recall feature for now. According to the latest updates from Weston, there are no current intentions to activate this by default or ask users to re-enable it. However, it’s important to note that plans can change in the future, but at present, it’s not on their agenda.
As a Windows enthusiast, I can share that Weston clarified to me that Windows 11 Enterprise doesn’t come with Windows Recall pre-installed. Instead, this is an additional component that enterprises can choose to install. By default, Windows 11 Enterprise doesn’t include the Recall software in its OS image. In essence, it’s not a part of the operating system out of the box.
If an enterprise decides to implement Recall on their computers, Weston ensures me that employers won’t have access to view what employees are doing during work hours because the data is entirely encrypted and accessible only to the logged-in user.
Microsoft is almost set to launch public testing of Windows Recall, starting with Windows Insiders on Copilot+ computers featuring Arm processors in October. Computers powered by Intel or AMD processors will be invited to participate in the preview of Windows Recall shortly thereafter.
As an analyst, I must admit that I am curious about the robustness of Microsoft’s upcoming Recall data storage solutions. It won’t be long until their preview is released, and I expect a flurry of cybersecurity experts eagerly testing its security. Only time will tell how this unfolds.
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2024-09-27 20:09