Latest news with #JoshuaLund
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Indian Express
Signal rolls out new update to shield chats from Microsoft's Recall AI feature
Signal has released a new version of its desktop app for Windows 11 users that prevents Microsoft's controversial Recall feature from taking screenshots of secured chats on the end-to-end encrypted messaging platform. The new version of Signal for Windows 11 has Screen Security, which means that nothing will appear when users attempt to take a screenshot of their Signal chats using the Recall feature that is available in Copilot+ PCs. This setting is automatically enabled by default, Joshua Lund, a developer at Signal, said in a blog post published on Wednesday, May 21. 'Although Microsoft made several adjustments over the past twelve months in response to critical feedback, the revamped version of Recall still places any content that's displayed within privacy-preserving apps like Signal at risk,' Lund said. 'As a result, we 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,' he added. Microsoft's Recall feature was launched last month after being delayed twice. The AI agent-driven feature takes continuous screenshots of the computer screen every few seconds and stores them in an easily searchable database. Recall essentially acts as a sort of 'photographic memory' for users who may want to revisit something they saw on their computer screen like an email or website based on the description of a picture or a broad conversation topic. Soon after it was announced in May last year, Microsoft had to roll back the feature due to intense backlash over privacy and security concerns. The revamped version of Recall is now an opt-in setting with an encrypted database and sensitive data filter. However, the changes appear to have not convinced Signal. The messaging platform's move highlights a growing divide between developers and operating system vendors like Microsoft over OS-level AI systems having access to sensitive information within apps. Screen Security in the Windows 11 version of Signal is based on Digital Rights Management (DRM), which is the same underlying technology that makes it harder for users to screenshot Netflix content, for instance, on their devices. To be sure, Signal's trick to block Recall snapshots may not be breaking any rules. The platform has pointed out that Microsoft's official developer document itself notes the usage of DRM on an app window will ensure that 'content won't show up in Recall or any other screenshot application.' Signal has also acknowledged that there could be some legitimate use cases of taking a screenshot. 'For example, some accessibility software (such as screen readers or magnification tools for people who are visually impaired) may not function correctly otherwise,' it said. The Screen Security feature can also be disabled by going to Signal Settings > Privacy > Screen Security. However, turning off Screen Security in Signal Desktop on Windows 11 will always display a warning and require confirmation in order to continue, it added. It also clarified that Screen Security on a user's local computer will not prevent users on the other end of the chat from taking screenshots of the messages. 'If you are communicating with someone who uses a screen reader on macOS or Linux, for example, keeping screen security enabled on your side won't prevent them from taking screenshots or adversely affect any accessibility software they may be using,' Signal said. Earlier this year, the messaging platform was at the centre of a major political controversy after a journalist from The Atlantic became privy to the US government's top-secret missile strike plans by accidentally being added to a Signal group chat.
Hans India
22-05-2025
- Hans India
Signal Blocks Recall to Protect Chats on Windows 11
Encrypted messaging app Signal is taking a stand againstMicrosoft's controversial Recall feature on Windows 11, which captures screencontent for AI-assisted recall. In its latest update, Signal has enabled screensecurity by default to protect users' private conversations from being archivedby the system's 'photographic memory.' This update applies the same DRM technology used to blockscreenshots of Netflix or other protected content. While it effectively shieldsSignal chats from Recall's snapshots, it may unintentionally impact accessibilitytools, particularly screen readers. Fortunately, Signal has made the settingeasy to disable under Settings > Privacy > Screen Security. Developer Joshua Lund expressed frustration that it evercame to this workaround. He emphasised that: 'Operating system vendors like Microsoft need to ensure thatthe developers of apps like Signal always have the necessary tools and optionsat their disposal to reject granting OS-level AI systems access to anysensitive information within their apps.' Despite Microsoft delaying Recall's launch twice, thefeature rolled out last month without an API for developers to excludesensitive content from Recall's indexing. While Recall might help users locatepast conversations or images using vague descriptions, critics argue it createsserious privacy risks. Lund also pointed out that while Microsoft excludes privatebrowser windows by default and allows users with Copilot Plus PCs to manuallyexclude apps from Recall, that safeguard only works if users know how toconfigure it. For now, Signal is relying on available tools to protect itsusers. As Lund stated: 'Signal is using the tools that are available to us, even though we recognise that there are many legitimate use cases where someone might need to take a screenshot.' The privacy-first platform is prioritising user security,even if it means compromising some features along the way.
The Verge
21-05-2025
- The Verge
Signal says no to Windows 11's Recall screenshots
Signal is taking proactive steps to ensure Microsoft's Recall feature can't screen capture your secured chats, by rolling out a new version of the Signal for Windows 11 client that enables screen security by default. This is the same DRM that blocks users from easily screenshotting a Netflix show on their computer or phone, and using it here could cause problems for people who use accessibility features like screen readers. While Signal says it's made the feature easy to disable, under Signal Settings > Privacy > Screen Security, it never should've come to this. Developer Joshua Lund writes that operating system vendors like Microsoft 'need to ensure that the developers of apps like Signal always have the necessary tools and options at their disposal to reject granting OS-level AI systems access to any sensitive information within their apps.' Despite delaying Recall twice before finally launching it last month, the 'photographic memory' feature doesn't yet have an API for app developers to opt their users' sensitive content out of its AI-powered archives. It could be useful for finding emails or chats (including ones in Signal) using whatever you can remember, like a description of a picture you've received or a broad conversation topic, but it could also be a massive security and privacy problem. Lund notes that Microsoft already filters out private or incognito browser window activity by default, and users who have a Copilot Plus PC with Recall can filter out certain apps under the settings, but only if they know how to do that. For now, Lund says that 'Signal is using the tools that are available to us even though we recognize that there are many legitimate use cases where someone might need to take a screenshot.'
