Should You Worry About Microsoft’s Recall Feature Taking Screenshots of Everything You Do?

Why Are Privacy Apps Desperately Blocking Windows Recall – And Should You Care?

AdGuard, a popular ad-blocking app, has joined the growing list of companies blocking Microsoft’s controversial Windows Recall feature. This move puts AdGuard alongside privacy-focused browser Brave and encrypted messaging app Signal in protecting users from what many see as a privacy nightmare.

Windows Recall is Microsoft’s AI-powered tool that automatically takes screenshots of everything you do on your Copilot+ PC. Think of it like having someone constantly looking over your shoulder and taking photos of your screen every few seconds. The idea is to help you find things you did before by searching through these screenshots with simple words.

But here’s where it gets scary: this means Recall could capture your private messages, credit card numbers, passwords, and other sensitive information without you even knowing.

Why Companies Are Saying “No Thanks” to Recall

AdGuard’s Concerns Are Real

AdGuard calls Windows Recall a “privacy concern” – and that’s putting it nicely. The company explains that the very idea of background screen captures feels unsettling. They worry about Recall accidentally grabbing screenshots of:

• Private chat windows
• Online forms with credit card details
• Personal information you never wanted saved

AdGuard’s blocking feature works differently than others – it disables Windows Recall completely across your entire system, not just within one app. This means no screenshots will be taken of any app, desktop, or website when AdGuard’s protection is turned on.

Brave Browser Takes a Stand

Brave decided to block Recall after being inspired by Signal’s earlier move. The browser company worries that your entire browsing history could end up in a database that’s “ripe for abuse”.

Brave uses a clever trick – it tells Windows that all browser tabs are “private,” which prevents Recall from taking screenshots. This is different from Signal’s approach, which blocks all screenshots entirely.

Signal Started the Movement

Signal was the first major app to block Recall back in May. The encrypted messaging company used a DRM flag to prevent any screenshots of their app, though this approach can sometimes interfere with accessibility tools like screen readers.

The Big Privacy Picture

What Microsoft Says vs. What Experts Worry About

Microsoft claims Recall is safe because:

• It’s turned off by default
• Screenshots are stored only on your computer
• Data is encrypted
• You need Windows Hello and a PIN to access it

But privacy experts aren’t convinced. They point out several problems:

• PINs are easy to crack
• Filters might miss sensitive information
• The unencrypted database could be targeted by hackers
• Malware could potentially access the stored screenshots

Real-World Risks People Face

The concerns go beyond technical problems. Recall’s database of screenshots could be especially dangerous in cases of intimate partner violence, where someone might use the stored images to track or control another person.

Any active window can be recorded if Recall is enabled, potentially capturing:

• Sensitive conversations
• Passwords being typed
• Private business documents
• Financial information

How These Blocking Features Actually Work

AdGuard’s System-Wide Protection

To stop Windows from capturing your screen activity, AdGuard users simply need to:

1. Open AdGuard Settings
2. Enable Tracking Protection
3. The “Disable Windows Recall” option turns on automatically

This protection works across your entire computer, not just in specific apps.

Brave’s Browser-Specific Approach

Brave’s method is more targeted:

• It marks all browser tabs as “private”
• This tells Windows not to capture screenshots of Brave windows
• You can still use other screenshot tools if needed
• The feature will be available in Brave version 1.81

Signal’s Complete Screenshot Block

Signal takes the most restrictive approach by enabling a DRM flag that prevents any screenshot software from capturing the app. While this provides maximum protection, it can interfere with legitimate accessibility tools.

Should You Be Worried About Recall?

The Current Reality

Right now, Windows Recall only works on specific Copilot+ PCs, and you have to turn it on yourself. It’s not secretly running on most computers. But tech experts worry this could change as these computers become more common.

Future Concerns

The bigger worry is what happens next. While Recall is opt-in now, who’s to say it will stay that way in the future? Microsoft has a history of making privacy-related features more aggressive over time.

What This Means for You

If you’re using one of these apps, the blocking features are already protecting you:

• AdGuard users get system-wide protection automatically when they enable Tracking Protection
• Brave users will have Recall blocked by default starting with version 1.81
• Signal users are already protected

All three companies also offer ways to turn these protections off if you actually want to use Recall.

Privacy vs. Convenience

These companies are taking a stand because they believe your privacy is more important than Microsoft’s productivity features. While Recall might help some people find old files or websites, the risk of accidentally capturing sensitive information is too high for privacy-focused companies to ignore.

The fact that multiple major tech companies are blocking the same Microsoft feature should tell you something important: even other tech companies think Recall goes too far when it comes to collecting your personal information.

Whether you agree with blocking Recall or not, it’s good to know that some companies are putting user privacy first and giving you the choice to opt out of features that make them uncomfortable.