Signal announced today that it is rolling out a significant update to its Windows app aimed at enhancing user privacy. The update introduces a “screen security” setting that prevents the operating system from capturing screenshots of conversations within the app. This new feature will be enabled by default for Windows 11 users.
The move comes in response to Microsoft’s Recall functionality, which the tech giant announced last year. Recall automatically captures continuous screen images of a user’s activities, allowing them to revisit previously viewed content. Initially introduced amid considerable criticism, Microsoft temporarily halted the deployment of Recall due to privacy concerns. However, in April of this year, Microsoft began testing the feature again, this time as an opt-in choice through its Windows Preview Channel, adding functionality to pause the service whenever the user wishes.
Despite these changes, Signal cautioned that Recall still records potentially sensitive content without users fully realizing the implications. With Signal’s new screen security feature active, attempts to capture a screenshot within the app will result only in a blank image.
Signal noted that users relying on accessibility tools such as screen readers might find that some of these tools do not function properly with screen security enabled. Therefore, the company allows users to disable screen security manually through the application’s Privacy settings menu by navigating to Signal Settings > Privacy > Screen Security. When users attempt to disable the feature, Signal will show an explicit warning requiring confirmation, ensuring that it isn’t unintentionally disabled.
In a blog post accompanying the announcement, Signal called on teams developing artificial intelligence features similar to Microsoft’s Recall to more carefully evaluate the privacy implications of their design decisions. The company emphasized that independent privacy-focused apps like Signal should not have to resort to specialized solutions or “one weird trick” approaches just to preserve user security and integrity.
