Windows Recall is one of the most controversial Windows features. After the misfired launch and the scandal that followed, Microsoft implemented plenty of security measures and improvements. Still, some believe that Recall"s reputation is tarnished forever. Besides, not everyone is comfortable with using the feature that takes screenshots of everything you do. As such, privacy-focused apps, browsers, and messengers are now offering blocks for Recall. AdGuard is the latest one to join them.
AdGuard for Windows 7.21 introduces a new feature that lets you turn off Windows Recall. Although Recall is a strictly opt-in experience and it has several security measures, AdGuard developers believe that it is not enough. They argue that the feature idea itself is unsettling, PINs are easy to crack, and filters sometimes fail to engage. Here is what AdGuard says in the announcement post:
PINs are easy to crack, and filters may fail to detect sensitive content. Leaving backdoors wide open and hoping everything works as intended — or that Microsoft will always act in good faith — just isn’t a solid privacy strategy.
That’s exactly why AdGuard has an entire section of settings dedicated to blocking Windows tracking. And now, it includes one more.
If you use AdGuard on your PC, you can find the new "Disable Windows Recall" feature in Settings > Tracking Protection.
As of now, Recall is only available on Copilot+ PCs. This month"s non-security update expanded Recall to more users, making the feature available in the European Economic Area. And with Intel working on the next-generation desktop processors with improved NPUs, you can expect Recall and other recently introduced AI features to make their way to more users with desktop PCs.
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