AdGuard has introduced a significant new privacy feature in its latest Windows update, allowing users to block Microsoft’s controversial Recall tool. The update, version 7.21, empowers users to disable Recall entirely via a simple toggle under the Tracking Protection settings.
Recall is an AI-powered tool built into Copilot+ PCs. It works by taking frequent screenshots of a user’s activity and making them searchable. While the idea is marketed as a productivity enhancement, enabling users to revisit websites, messages, or documents with ease, it has ignited a firestorm of privacy concerns.
Despite being opt-in and processing data locally, the notion of a system constantly capturing screen content has raised alarm bells among privacy advocates and developers. Critics point out the potential for Recall to inadvertently log highly sensitive data—private conversations, banking details, or confidential work content all of which could be vulnerable to leaks, hacks, or misuse.
The latest move by AdGuard puts it in alignment with other privacy-focused platforms that have pushed back against Recall. With the new blocking option, users can ensure the screen-recording tool does not operate silently in the background. The feature addresses fears that existing protections, like PIN-based access and content filters, are insufficient in safeguarding user data.
The backlash against Recall isn’t limited to AdGuard. Signal, the popular encrypted messaging platform, was among the first to block the feature entirely, preventing it from capturing its app interface. Brave, a browser known for its strong privacy policies, has also responded by disabling Recall by default for users, although it can be manually re-enabled.
Other developers are also taking action. Mozilla Firefox has acknowledged Recall’s potential risks and is actively exploring solutions. Similarly, the Vivaldi browser team is working on blocking mechanisms to protect user activity from being monitored.
This growing resistance underlines a widening gap between tech giants pursuing AI-driven features and developers prioritizing user consent and digital safety. As AI becomes more integrated into operating systems, the debate over where to draw the line on surveillance and privacy intensifies.
AdGuard’s Recall blocker is a clear signal that, for many, the value of privacy still outweighs the allure of convenience.
