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Online security is at the forefront of everyone’s minds these days, with new stories seemingly breaking every week about a data protection breach or new tips on protecting digital privacy. The latest news, currently being investigated by Watchdog, has raised concerns over a new AI feature being installed on Microsoft laptops. The purpose of the feature is to make the life of a Microsoft user easier. For instance, they can revisit sites or conversations they had previously by searching a particular term or image in Recall.
Staying safe online is paramount at all times, from making payments to downloading apps. It’s always recommended to only visit sites that prioritize user privacy, such as this Bitcoin casino, if you want to gamble online. Using crypto is one of the most secure ways to pay online and it’s almost impossible to hack. Likewise, a surefire way to tell if a website is safe to use is by checking to see if it has an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate. This essentially confirms that all user data is secure and verifies that the owners of the site are legitimate.
The controversy surrounding Microsoft is due to their new AI program, Copilot+. Although created with the convenience of its customers in mind, this new Recall feature, which screenshots and records everything a user does, allowing them to scroll back through and access previous activity, poses huge security issues. Recall will make it that much easier for online criminals to access everything that they need to break the law in one place, on the condition that they are able to see the screenshots and recordings in the first place.
Microsoft has assured those worried that all Recall files will only be accessible on users’ devices and that not even they will be able to reach them. This drastically reduces the risk of digital criminals from being able to hack into any kind of cloud-based drive. Although this does make Copilot+ fairly safe, the screenshots will not be censored, meaning that any private information, from passwords to bank details, will be readily available should a hacker be able to access a Microsoft laptop.
However, this has not completely dispelled fears that many are feeling. Copilot+ is yet another example of AI features that are driving the increase of surveillance in the Western world. While this in itself may not be cause for concern, it positively correlates with a rise in hacking and other online fraudulent activities. For those with a Microsoft laptop, there are still ways to ensure safety with Recall. Firstly, choose a secure and unique password and do not share it with anyone, so that in the event of your laptop falling into the hands of a hacker, they will not be able to access any private information. Secondly, delete snapshots that include any compromising or personal details, or pause the feature altogether. This may be a slightly time-consuming task, but it is well worth the privacy it affords. Microsoft has also allowed users the ability to halt the feature from recording on certain sites or applications, which is recommended for online banking, online real money casinos, or whilst making online payments.
