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win: add script to disable Recall feature
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undergroundwires committed May 27, 2024
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74 changes: 73 additions & 1 deletion src/application/collections/windows.yaml
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category: Disable OS data collection
children:
-
name: Disable Recall
recommend: strict
docs: |-
This script disables the Recall feature to address serious privacy concerns.

Recall is an AI feature introduced in Windows 11 on Copilot+ PCs [1] [2] [3] [4] [5].
It is designed to capture and store snapshots of your screen and analyze them [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7].
This feature allows users to browse and search their past activities, such as images and text [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7].

Recall includes a component called 'screenray'.
This component analyzes the snapshot's contents and lets you interact with elements within it [3] [5] [6].
This script will also disable the screenray feature [6].

This feature is enabled by default, so Windows will capture and store screen snapshots [2] [5] [6].
They remain on your computer for months by default [4].

Recall captures frequent screenshots, as frequent as multiple times during a minute [1] [2] [4].
These screenshots may include all visible content such as app data, websites, images, and documents [2] [5].
It may even include sensitive information like passwords and bank account numbers [2] [3].
The data is indexed, and the indexes are stored locally on your computer [5].

This feature raises significant security and privacy concerns.
Experts sometimes describe this feature as a 'privacy nightmare' [4] [7] or 'keylogger' [4] due to these concerns.
The privacy risks associated with this feature include:

- **Misuse**:
This data is stored locally on your computer [1] [2] [5] [7].
It poses a risk of unauthorized access to your sensitive and private data [4] [7].
Potential threats include malicious attackers, state actors, colleagues, or family members who could misuse this
information for identity theft, financial crime, phishing, or coercion.
- **Microsoft data collection**:
Microsoft's data collection policies may change.
As Mozilla expressed, this raises concerns about potential data sharing with law enforcement or the use of the data
for targeted advertising or AI training in the future [7].
- **Storing sensitive data**:
Microsoft does not perform content moderation on the snapshots [2] [3] [4] [7].
It means that sensitive information such as passwords or financial account numbers are visible and stored [2] [3],
posing a significant privacy and security risk.
- **Opt-in**:
The feature is opt-in by default [2] [6], and users can only opt-out of certain sites if they are using Microsoft Edge [3].
This limits user control over their privacy.
- **Lack of transparency:**
While Microsoft states that the snapshots are not sent to their servers [2] [7]
and that all analysis is conducted locally [1] [2] [3] [7].
However, Microsoft has not specified whether it collects the results of these analyses or any related diagnostic data.
United Kingdom's data protection agency finds this lack of transparency worrying [4] [7].
- **Language model vulnerbailities:**
Language models susceptibility to attacks like prompt engineering underlines its security risks [8].
More about security vulnerabilities: [Attacks on language models](https://erkinekici.com/articles/attacks-on-language-models/).

This script configures the `HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot!DisableAIDataAnalysis` registry key [6].

By running this script, you enhance your privacy by preventing the storage and analysis of snapshots on your device [6],
thereby mitigating the associated risks.

[1]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240523143034/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/retrace-your-steps-with-recall-aa03f8a0-a78b-4b3e-b0a1-2eb8ac48701c "Retrace your steps with Recall - Microsoft Support | support.microsoft.com"
[2]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240523143048/https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/privacy-and-control-over-your-recall-experience-d404f672-7647-41e5-886c-a3c59680af15 "Privacy and control over your Recall experience - Microsoft Support | support.microsoft.com"
[3]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240523143210/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/manage-recall "Manage Recall for Windows clients - Windows Client Management | Microsoft Learn | learn.microsoft.com"
[4]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240523122636/https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsofts-new-windows-11-recall-is-a-privacy-nightmare/ "Microsoft's new Windows 11 Recall is a privacy nightmare | www.bleepingcomputer.com"
[5]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240523143240/https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2024/05/20/introducing-copilot-pcs/ "Introducing Copilot+ PCs - The Official Microsoft Blog | blogs.microsoft.com"
[6]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240522162728/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/mdm/policy-csp-windowsai#disableaidataanalysis "WindowsAI Policy CSP - Windows Client Management | Microsoft Learn | learn.microsoft.com"
[7]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240523155006/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwwqp6nx14o "Microsoft Copilot+ Recall feature 'privacy nightmare' | www.bbc.com"
[8]: https://erkinekici.com/articles/attacks-on-language-models/ "Attacks on language models :: Erkin Ekici | erkinekici.com"
call:
function: SetRegistryValue
parameters:
keyPath: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsCopilot
valueName: DisableAIDataAnalysis
dataType: REG_DWORD
data: "1"
deleteOnRevert: 'true' # Missing by default since Windows 10 Pro (≥ 22H2) and Windows 11 Pro (≥ 23H2)
-
category: Disable app access to personal information
docs: |- # refactor-with-variables: Same • Caution
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and improving security by reducing the risk of language model attacks [3].

[1]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240122064120/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/manage-windows-copilot "Manage Copilot in Windows - Windows Client Management | Microsoft Learn | learn.microsoft.com"
[2]: https://web.archive.org/web/20231004134328/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/mdm/policy-csp-windowsai#turnoffwindowscopilot "WindowsAI Policy CSP - Windows Client Management | Microsoft Learn | learn.microsoft.com"
[2]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240522162728/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/client-management/mdm/policy-csp-windowsai#turnoffwindowscopilot "WindowsAI Policy CSP - Windows Client Management | Microsoft Learn | learn.microsoft.com"
[3]: https://erkinekici.com/articles/attacks-on-language-models/ "Attacks on language models :: Erkin Ekici | erkinekici.com"
[4]: https://web.archive.org/web/20240122064046/https://www.elevenforum.com/t/enable-or-disable-windows-copilot-in-windows-11.17045/ "Enable or Disable Windows Copilot in Windows 11 Tutorial | Windows 11 Forum | www.elevenforum.com"
call:
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