Tweet
[ul]
[li]Signal has a new option for its Windows 11 app to block Recall[/li][li]The developer had to fudge a way of preventing screenshots of the messaging app being taken[/li][li]Unfortunately this has side-effects such as interfering with screen reading tools, but Signal says Microsoft has left it no choice[/li][/ul]
Signal, a messaging app that majors in security and privacy (and has been in the limelight recently), has introduced a measure to defend content sent via the platform from the prying eyes of Microsoftâs Recall feature.
In case you forgot â unlikely, I know â Recall is the controversial feature for Copilot+ PCs that provides an AI-powered deep search in Windows 11. It does this by taking regular screen grabs of the activity on your PC, and you can see where the conflict comes in if the feature screenshots messages sent via a privacy-focused app like Signal.
As a counter to this, Signal announced in a blog post (picked up by The Verge) that itâs introducing a new âscreen securityâ setting for its Windows 11 app, and this will be turned on by default for users of the desktop OS. This functionality is rolling out now.
What the developer has done here is activate a DRM flag on the Signal app window as a fudge to stop Recall from capturing screenshots. Itâs using that workaround because Microsoft failed to offer âgranular settings for app developers that would enable Signal to easily protect privacyâ with Recall, the blog post observes.
Signal notes: âWe are enabling an extra layer of protection by default on Windows 11 in order to help maintain the security of Signal Desktop on that platform even though it introduces some usability trade-offs. Microsoft has simply given us no other option.â
Whatâs the usability trade-off? Blocking screenshots from every angle using this DRM fudge means legitimate use of screen grabbing is ruled out, and also some screen reading tools (like Narrator in Windows 11) or other accessibility features may not work properly. So, thatâs far from ideal, but Signal argues that Microsoft has left it no choice.
[HEADING=1]Analysis: Clear Signal[/HEADING]
[IMG alt=âSignal Screen Security Feature on Windows 11â]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5D...9yfBjHmX63.jpg
(Image credit: Signal)
This does seem to be an important part of the equation thatâs missing with Recall. Famously, Microsoft pulled the feature after it was first revealed a year ago, and took it back to the drawing board, tightening up security and privacy in numerous ways. But that was a case of fixing and smoothing over weaknesses, rather than strengthening measures â Recall was launched way too early, and without enough thought, worryingly.
And still after all that time, there are software developers out there like the maker of Signal pointing out a basic flaw in Recall that Microsoft should have addressed at this point.
Remember that this doesnât apply to you if you donât have a Copilot+ PC, though, as only those devices get Recall (it requires a beefy NPU for locally accelerating AI workloads to ensure the feature works smoothly enough).
While the new setting is enabled by default for Signal in Windows 11, you can turn it off by going to Signal Settings > Privacy > Screen security (youâll be warned that youâre about to disable the ability).
Itâll certainly be worth watching this space going forward, and Iâm hoping Microsoft will implement a proper way to let developers control how Recall interacts with their apps, as this only makes sense â particularly for privacy-related software.
[HEADING=2]You might also likeâŚ[/HEADING]
[ul]
[li]Windows 11 is getting more AI shortcuts, but is Microsoft in danger of cluttering up the OS with AI creep?[/li][li]Canât upgrade to Windows 11? This Linux project wants to save your old PC from the scrapheap when Windows 10 support ends[/li][li]Been hiding from Windows 11 24H2 due to the fuss about all the bugs? Thereâs nowhere to run now as Microsoftâs made the update compulsory[/li][/ul]
Continue readingâŚ