Important notice about Microsoft Recall in Windows 11 from version 24H2  [18.12.24]

With the update from Windows 11 to version 24H2, Microsoft has introduced a new feature: Recall.

This is an AI-powered tool that creates a visual timeline of the logged-in user's activities to enable navigation and retrieval of files, web pages, and applications. Similar to the earlier “Timeline” function from Windows 10, Recall goes one step further by taking screenshots of active windows at regular intervals, storing them (locally) and enabling AI-based searchability of work histories.

Windows 11's Recall feature poses significant privacy and security risks:

• Unwanted data collection: Recall regularly takes screenshots of active windows that may contain confidential or sensitive information, such as passwords, private chats, or financial data.
• Data access by unauthorized persons: Screenshots of confidential files or applications could be viewed by people who gain access to your device.
• Cloud synchronization: If screenshots and activity data are synchronized to the cloud, they are potentially more vulnerable to access by third parties.
• Malware attack vector: An attacker could search specifically for recall data to spy out sensitive information such as login data or confidential content.

We strongly recommend that you disable the recall feature in Windows 11!

To check whether Recall is activated in Windows and how to deactivate Recall:

 

1. Click on the Start button with the right mouse button and select “Terminal (Administrator)” or “Windows PowerShell (Administrator)”, or if necessary log in as administrator and confirm.
2. In the Terminal or PowerShell, enter the command DISM /Online /Get-FeatureInfo /FeatureName:Recall and press the Enter key.
3. If the entry “Enabled” appears next to “State”, the recall function is already activated. In this case, the function can be disabled using the command DISM /Online /Disable-Feature /FeatureName:Recall
4. Close the window.

If you have any questions, please contact the IT service desk.

 

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