The privacy-centric browser Brave is taking a stand against a controversial feature in Windows 11. By default, Brave will block the Windows 11 Recall screenshotting function, which has raised privacy concerns. This feature, introduced by Microsoft, periodically captures screenshots of a user’s computer screen, sparking debates about privacy risks due to its potential misuse.
Recall was designed to help users revert their PCs to an earlier state by using automatically captured screenshots of active displays. However, these images were stored unencrypted, making them vulnerable to unauthorized access by malicious software or individuals.
In response to criticism, Microsoft decided to roll back the mandatory implementation of Recall. Now users can choose to opt-in, and software developers have the option to exempt their programs from being included in Recall’s screenshots. Additionally, Microsoft clarified that Recall won’t capture screenshots of web browsing windows deemed “private,” such as those in Chrome’s Incognito mode.
Taking privacy a step further, Brave’s developers have updated the browser to flag all windows as private, effectively blocking Recall from capturing images of users’ activities. This update is already live in Brave’s Nightly builds and will be available in the stable version in the coming weeks.
For those who prefer using Recall, Brave provides an easy toggle in the browser’s settings to enable the feature. While Recall is still restricted to Preview builds, it’s anticipated to become a standard feature in the upcoming public release of Windows 11.
