Signal shuts the blinds on Microsoft Recall with the power of DRM
- Reference: 1747919171
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2025/05/22/signal_microsoft_recall/
- Source link:
Recall, which is not [1]enabled by default , lacks granularity in how it captures its screenshots. While it will ignore incognito-mode browser windows, everything else is fair game. Signal prides itself on chat privacy and sees automatic screenshot capture of message windows [2]as unacceptable .
In the absence of settings that developers can use to curb Microsoft's eye on the desktop, Signal has turned to DRM. Setting a DRM flag on an application window means Recall (and any other screenshotter) will ignore it.
[3]
Signal explained: "Apps like Signal have essentially no control over what content Recall is able to capture, and implementing 'DRM' that works for you (not against you) is the best choice that we had. It's like a scene in a movie where the villain has switched sides, and you can't screenshot this one by default either."
[4]
[5]
The new "Screen security" setting is on by default in Signal Desktop on Windows 11. Turning it off prompts a warning and requires user confirmation to continue.
It is a blunt tool, but difficult to avoid. As Signal observed, there are legitimate reasons for wanting a screenshot. For example, accessibility software like screen readers or magnification tools may not function correctly otherwise. It also only applies to the local device.
[6]Microsoft total recalls Recall totally to Copilot+ PCs
[7]Microsoft rolls out Recall for Intel, AMD-based Copilot+ PCs
[8]Microsoft says premature patch could make Windows Recall forget how to work
[9]Microsoft reboots Windows Recall, but users wish they could forget
[10]Recall made a disastrous debut a year ago at Microsoft's 2024 Build event. Designed to capture snapshots to allow users to step back to whatever they might have been working on, it seemed a good idea, but the implementation resembled a prototype that somehow made it out into the wider world.
Cybersecurity experts and privacy activists tore Recall to shreds, and Microsoft was forced to go away and think about what it had done rework the tool.
[11]
In April 2025, Recall [12]turned up in the Windows Insider Release Preview channel following a [13]tentative preview of a reworked version at the end of 2024. The feature is opt-in and still carries the "Preview" label at the time of writing. [14]According to Microsoft: "You are always in control of what apps and websites get saved in snapshots."
Signal, however, has a drier take on Recall. "'Take a screenshot every few seconds' legitimately sounds like a suggestion from a low-parameter LLM that was given a prompt like 'How do I add an arbitrary AI feature to my operating system as quickly as possible in order to make investors happy?'" ®
Get our [15]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.theregister.com/2024/09/27/microsoft_has_some_thoughts_about/
[2] https://signal.org/blog/signal-doesnt-recall/
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aC9KJGalzlvzusCQbelheQAAAoY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aC9KJGalzlvzusCQbelheQAAAoY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aC9KJGalzlvzusCQbelheQAAAoY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/11/microsoft_windows_recall/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/12/09/windows_recall_intel_amd/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/12/04/microsoft_update_recall_bug/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/25/windows_recall_preview/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/05/21/qualcomm_windows_microsoft/
[11] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aC9KJGalzlvzusCQbelheQAAAoY&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/11/microsoft_windows_recall/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/22/microsoft_recall_release/
[14] https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/retrace-your-steps-with-recall-aa03f8a0-a78b-4b3e-b0a1-2eb8ac48701c
[15] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Delete Recall
If they stand to make even a fractionally significant amount of revenue from the Recall-harvested metadata, this will no longer be an opt-in or even uninstallable feature by the next few releases. They just have to find a way to pave over the public outrage or wait for it to die down before forcing it into the OS as mandatory.
Like Copilot and similar GenAI "solutions", the thing it does for the end user is an insignificant jangling-keys distraction from the data collection that it performs for the hosting corp.
Re: Delete Recall
It will always have to be deletable if Microsoft want to keep selling to, for example, banks and weapons manufacturers.
Re: Delete Recall
Only disabled for select few negotiated in secret backroom deals with Authorised Supervision from the Spooks that Rule and blessed by Chief Almighty.
Re: Delete Recall
Easier to not use Windows.
Finally!
It took some time to see DRM put to work for the end-user.
" implementing 'DRM' that works for you (not against you)"...
Finally a type of DRM I can agree with !
So they have shut the door on Recall ...
but what about telemetry ? That is even worse as it ships data up to MS servers, keystrokes can be requested.
DRM
Soooo.... Any hack that will circumvent DRM for the intention of pirating copyrighted content will also go right around the DRM controls applied to Signal. Sort of dual-use code. Built for one purpose and then re-used as part of a targeted attack on security sensitive endpoints. Then a bit of Exploit Chaining and the Signal conversation will be revealed.
Actually, nevermind.... The Recall feature is really secure. Microsoft has done their usual high standard of coding. They did not rush this unwanted feature to market with little thought to security & privacy. There will never be any security defects in Recall that could be exploited. So it doesn't really matter if DRM content is exposed in Recall's data slurp.
Totally
Setting a DRM flag on an application window means Recall (and any other screenshotter) will ignore it.
Indeed it will totally ignore it, and not specifically focus on where the actual juice is!
Queue MS Update
The next update will re-enable screenshots for any and all application that has not had MS' blessing of being DRM worthy.
Think I am paranoid? Just wait and see. Do you really think that MS honours any setting an application wants to make? It will do its own valuation and that means grabbing anything it can for presentation to the Ministry Of Truth.
Copying
If something is on a computer, then it can be copied. Telling people otherwise, however well intentioned, is misleading.
Delete Recall
Run PowerShell as administrator and type:
Dism /Online /Disable-Feature /Featurename:Recall
Reboot, and it's gone!