Signal has announced an update to its Windows application aimed at enhancing user privacy by preventing the system from capturing screenshots. This new feature, termed “screen security,” is automatically activated on devices running Windows 11. It has been introduced as a countermeasure against Microsoft’s Recall feature, which was designed to continuously capture screenshots in order to help users recall their past activities.
Despite facing backlash leading to the temporary suspension of the Recall feature’s rollout last year, Microsoft has resumed testing it with opt-in options for users and the ability to pause the feature as of April. However, Signal points out that the Recall feature may still inadvertently capture sensitive content even with these changes applied.
With Signal’s new screen security feature enabled, users attempting to take a screenshot will merely see a blank screen, thus safeguarding their private conversations and data. Signal has also forewarned users that enabling this setting might interfere with the functionality of certain applications, such as screen readers. For those wishing to disable the screen security setting, it can be done via Signal’s privacy settings, but a confirmation prompt will appear to avoid accidental changes.
In a recent blog post, Signal expressed concerns about the implications of such features and urged developers behind systems like Recall to consider privacy impacts more thoroughly. Signal’s commentary emphasised the importance of robust developer tools to protect user privacy without resorting to unconventional fixes.
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