Own a Copilot+ PC? Opt out of Microsoft Recall

By Sarah Zamer
IT Communications Specialist

Microsoft Recall is an opt in feature on Copilot+ PCs that takes screenshots of your activity on your device. Recall incorporates generative AI, along with a Neutral Processing Unit (NPU) to process all that data and make it searchable on your device. 

This allows you to explore a timeline of your PC’s past. Recall allows you to retrieve anything previously displayed on your screen, including previous links, photos, websites and more. 

The snapshots of your activity on your computer are stored and analyzed locally on your device. 

UB’s Information Security Office highly recommends that all students, faculty and staff who own a Copilot+ PC opt out of Recall to keep your data secure on campus. 

University at Buffalo is also disabling Microsoft Recall on any university owned devices. 

Recall poses data security threats here at the university. If a malicious threat actor gains access to your device with Recall, they could access your Recall database with potential exposure of your sensitive data. 

“When working with vendors, either on premise or cloud systems, it's our responsibility to do our due diligence and ensure they protect our data in the same manner we would,” according to Joe Grupp, Assistant Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer. “Sometimes features, like Recall, are released that could pose a risk to sensitive data and even go against our university data protection policies.  When this happens it's our job to mitigate those risks in any way possible.” 

Anyone who owns a Copilot+ PC also has the option to fully uninstall Recall from their device. 

UBIT is dedicated to keeping you and your data safe and secure on campus. You can read more about avoiding email scams, protecting your devices, and where to get help if your device has been compromised by visiting buffalo.edu/ubit/safe. 

The UBIT Help Center is here to help students, faculty and staff with your device. UB students can also book an appointment with the UB Tech Squad at buffalo.edu/ubit/help or call 716-645-3542.