Signal blasts Microsoft over Recall privacy failings, as secure messaging app is forced to fudge a way of blocking the controversial Windows 11 feature

Date:
Thu, 22 May 2025 10:12:36 +0000

Description:
The workaround is far from ideal and could interfere with accessibility apps, but Signal argues that Microsoft left it no choice.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Signal has a new option for its Windows 11 app to block Recall The developer had to fudge a way of preventing screenshots of the messaging app being taken Unfortunately this has side-effects such as interfering with screen reading tools, but Signal says Microsoft has left it no choice

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 Microsofts Recall feature.

In case you forgot unlikely, I know 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 its introducing a new screen security 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. Its using that workaround because Microsoft failed to offer granular settings for app developers that would enable Signal to easily protect privacy with Recall,
the blog post observes.

Signal notes: 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.

Whats 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, thats far from ideal, but Signal argues that Microsoft has left it no choice. Analysis: Clear Signal (Image credit: Signal)

This does seem to be an important part of the equation thats 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 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 doesnt apply to you if you dont 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 (youll be warned that youre about to disable the ability).

Itll certainly be worth watching this space going forward, and Im hoping Microsoft will implement a proper way to let developers control how Recall interacts with their apps, as this only makes sense particularly for privacy-related software. You might also like... Windows 11 is getting more
AI shortcuts, but is Microsoft in danger of cluttering up the OS with AI creep? Cant upgrade to Windows 11? This Linux project wants to save your old PC from the scrapheap when Windows 10 support ends Been hiding from Windows
11 24H2 due to the fuss about all the bugs? Theres nowhere to run now as Microsofts made the update compulsory



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/signal-blasts-microsoft-over-recal l-privacy-failings-as-secure-messaging-app-is-forced-to-fudge-a-way-of-blockin g-the-controversial-windows-11-feature


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