In response to growing privacy concerns surrounding Microsoft's Windows Recall feature, the Brave browser has announced a proactive measure to safeguard user data. Starting with version 1.81, Brave will block Windows Recall from capturing screenshots of any browsing activity by default. (brave.com)
Windows Recall, introduced in May 2024, is designed to enhance user experience by taking periodic screenshots of active windows, allowing users to search through their past activities. However, this functionality has raised significant privacy and security concerns. Initially, Recall stored these screenshots in a local plaintext database, making sensitive information vulnerable to unauthorized access. Although Microsoft has since implemented security enhancements, including encryption and making the feature opt-in, skepticism remains among privacy advocates. (bleepingcomputer.com)
Brave's decision to block Recall aligns with its commitment to user privacy. By treating all browser tabs as private, Brave ensures that Recall cannot capture any browsing activity. This implementation utilizes Microsoft's SetInputScope API, setting the input scope to 'IS_PRIVATE' for all browser windows, effectively preventing Recall from taking snapshots. (github.com)
Users who prefer to use Recall can re-enable it within Brave's settings by navigating to Settings > Privacy and security and toggling off the "Block Microsoft Recall" option. (brave.com)
This move by Brave follows similar actions by other privacy-focused applications. For instance, the Signal messaging app previously blocked Recall from accessing chat windows, reflecting a broader industry trend toward protecting user data against invasive system-level logging tools. (bleepingcomputer.com)
Brave's proactive stance underscores the ongoing tension between enhancing user experience through features like Recall and maintaining stringent privacy standards. As the digital landscape evolves, such measures highlight the importance of user autonomy and the need for transparent, user-centric privacy controls.
Source: Softonic If you want to prevent Windows 11 from stealing your information, this is the only browser that will stop it - Softonic
