Open Menu
AllLocalCommunitiesAbout
lotide
AllLocalCommunitiesAbout
Login

Windows 11 to add an AI agent that runs in background with access to personal folders, warns of security risk

⁨0⁩ ⁨likes⁩

Submitted ⁨⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨themachinestops@lemmy.dbzer0.com⁩ to ⁨technology@lemmy.world⁩

https://www.windowslatest.com/2025/11/18/windows-11-to-add-an-ai-agent-that-runs-in-background-with-access-to-personal-folders-warns-of-security-risk/

Image

source

Comments

Sort:hotnewtop
  • ToiletFlushShowerScream@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    So Microsoft is the pig whose committed to the AI chatbot ham. There’s no going back now for windows scanning my personal files for their own use. It’s that or nothing from Microsoft from now on.

    source
    • BillyTheKid@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      My sib, they’ve been doing this kind of thing for years. This is not new. This is how they operate.

      If you value your privacy at all don’t use MS products.

      source
  • Sabata11792@ani.social ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    How long until we can trick the Ai into deletion the System32 folder?

    source
    • muusemuuse@sh.itjust.works ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      That should be a fun defcon.

      source
  • Pirate@feddit.org ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Cool, you know who doesn’t have this issue? People who uninstalled the spyware called Windows from their device.

    source
  • mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    lol

    they just keep piling on justifications for switching away

    source
    • architect@thelemmy.club ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      There’s not a day that goes by that i don’t think about it. In fact i might just install a dual boot today and get reacquainted with a Linux distro. See if it runs the software I need…

      source
      • demonsword@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        you might try a live USB before you decide to commit, you can even create one inside Windows without formatting any disks

        source
      • xvertigox@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Look into winboat if needed

        source
  • SaharaMaleikuhm@feddit.org ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I’ve been watching Windows get worse and worse from the sidelines for years now, but it seems they are really ramping it up now. It has gotten so bad, I genuinely feel bad for Windows users now. But it’s also pretty damn funny.

    source
    • BillyTheKid@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      If I didn’t know better id think they’re trying to get people to switch away from windows.

      source
  • Sunflier@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    I never bought Windows 11 for AI shit. It wasn’t even what came with 11 originally. Hey Microsoft, why not make a version of Windows 11 with all the AI stuff fully turned on and call it Windows 11-AI. You sell it separately and up charge ad much ad you want. Just reset 11 to no AI and have it be the bare bones 11.

    source
    • pornpornporn@lemmynsfw.com ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Also, the AI-Windows could be upsold as a luxury, which means you can charge more for AI-11.

      … If people were willing to pay for it, which is a tiny percentage of the small percentage of people that want AI on their windows. Even the people that are all in on chatgpt will very rarely accept paying a cent for it (and it must be a bargain considering that openAI said a few months ago that the average premium plan is a net loss for them due to the server costs)

      The way things have been going it’s more likely that the AI-free version will be the upsold luxury

      source
    • Washedupcynic@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Because they make so much more $ from selling your data. Microsoft would rather push these AI programs in an update, and bank on their users not noticing. The majority of users operate in a walled garden, they aren’t editing registry files or manually running commands, so they are less likely to notice the changes. It’s the power users that notice this shit, and sound the alarm.

      source
    • Rooster326@programming.dev ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      They can’t do that. They have all of their money riding on AI. They can’t have own any data that might show the all-mightly Shareholders that they bet wrong.

      source
  • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Important to note here that if you are running Windows or a dual-boot, the new version of O&O ShutUp has a utility that allows you to delete CoPilot.

    source
  • thingAmaBob@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    A few months ago, I did a fresh install of Windows 11 with no access to any personal files, etc, all done on a separate drive. After seeing all of the changes, I am glad I haven’t used it since. Holy moly.

    source
  • DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    The LLMs demand more data, so MS is providing it by scraping our personal hard drives. Well, not mine, but still most peoples.

    I still have Win10 running on an air-gapped laptop because there are no Linux drivers for my cheap auto-feed scanner, which I’m using to scan a raft of old photos. Once that project is done, I’ll put Linux Mint on it, and use it for something fun.

    Gimp, Inkscape, Blender, Steam, LibreOffice, Obsidian, and Jellyfin do everything I want from a desktop.

    source
    • conartistpanda@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Dont forget “Everything”

      source
    • FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I have a dual-boot with Linux Mint. I don’t access anything personal from my windows installation. It’s just for games that don’t work on Linux.

      source
    • massacre@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Oof - that reminds me - I have a LOT of scanning / digitizing to do.

      source
  • echodot@feddit.uk ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Why? Who’s asking for this stuff, is there somebody out there who is really pleased with this news or is Microsoft really just that out of touch.

    I don’t want to have to start wearing rainbow knee-length socks, but Microsoft are pushing me towards it.

    source
    • pelespirit@sh.itjust.works ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Isn’t it so they can train their AI on your personal files?

      source
    • TheProtagonist@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      The tech industry puts bazillions of dollars into AI development and now it has to put AI literally everywhere to make it look somehow useful. Whether the customer / user wants this or not. I guess they are hoping that people will eventually like it.

      source
    • MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I work in IT for businesses and the number of times I’ve had to debunk AI slop hallucinations as actual troubleshooting information is not zero.

      “Yes, I can see the instructions say to check that checkbox, however, that checkbox does not exist” (screenshot of relevant control panel).

      This is just evidence, to me, that business types are already relying on AI instead of doing any actual thought or research on any topic they don’t already have a deep understanding of, or are too lazy to bother with.

      Consumers are not driving this change.

      The worst part is that it’s an echo chamber of yes-men that seem to be pushing for it. The AI enthusiasts trying to sell their crap, convincing the middle managers that they need their AI crap, and them buying it and asking for more/better AI crap, and the cycle continues. At no point does any of the output of any AI system provide any unique insight, or value, to anyone. The rest of us are being dragged along for the ride, regardless of what we want.

      source
    • SaharaMaleikuhm@feddit.org ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I’ve read this exact questions tens of times now. This is capitalism. Now why would a for profit company ever do anything? I leave you to your deductions.

      source
      • echodot@feddit.uk ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Won’t they make more money if they don’t piss everyone off.

        source
        • -> View More Comments
    • salacious_coaster@infosec.pub ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      The socks have a bit of a learning curve, depending on what you want to do with them, but it’s worth it. It’s such a huge relief to not care how much more Windows is getting enshittified this week, since it’s not my problem anymore.

      source
    • SabinStargem@lemmy.today ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      In theory, I could use an AI for doing stuff. For example, opening ripped videos, finding the timestamp where the episode name is given, and then copying that into the video’s filename. Afterwards, it can open Handbrake, use my preferred settings for audio and subs, then start the conversion of multiple files.

      However, this is all predicated on the AI not doing unwanted things - such as giving Microsoft my personal information, preferences in hentai, and passwords.

      Someday I will use agentic AI, but it will be on my terms.

      source
    • Jankatarch@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Microsoft is forcefemming people en masse.

      source
    • ozymandias@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I don’t want to have to start wearing rainbow knee-length socks

      it’s pretty obvious that you do

      source
    • thethunderwolf@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      put the socks on >:3

      source
      • rbos@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        I’m not sure what’s worse, the greybeard stereotype or the socks.

        source
        • -> View More Comments
    • orioler25@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Consumers are not the main driver of profit, speculative value is. Microsoft knows that Windows is guaranteed to be on the majority of PC’s, which means they can afford to implement hostile features that increase the speculative value on data collection and AI investment.

      source
      • umbrella@lemmy.ml ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
        [deleted]
        source
        • -> View More Comments
      • audaxdreik@pawb.social ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Once you realize this, you also realize that there’s no going back for them either. If by some slim chance there’s enough resistance for them to pause or rollback some features, it’s only temporary. The overall course remains clear and they will continue to move in that direction regardless.

        There disdain for you as a consumer could not be made any clearer.

        source
        • -> View More Comments
      • Credibly_Human@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        This is well said. So many people don’t get that of course these companies know you hate this shit.

        They’re just trying to boost their stock value and violate your privacy harder.

        source
    • BassTurd@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Woah woah woah, lot’s not compare fabulous knee high rainbow socks with the malware MS is putting in their OS. That’s not fair to rainbows or socks.

      source
      • SparroHawc@lemmy.zip ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        The implication is that they’ll have to jump ship to Linux, and thus become a member of the unixsocks community.

        source
    • SirEDCaLot@lemmy.today ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I don’t think MS is out of touch with what the customer wants, I think they just stopped listening.

      The fact is nobody is asking for this stuff.

      I think the hope is that they build it anyway and then people will use/want it. AI is the big buzzword of the decade, just like ‘cloud’ was the big buzzword of last decade.

      source
      • umbrella@lemmy.ml ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago
        [deleted]
        source
        • -> View More Comments
  • fluxx@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    They are getting more aggressive by the day it seems. Luckily I’ve been windows free for 10 years now. And recently, I switched almost my entire extended family to Linux mint to great success. Only my brother in law still uses win, cause of games, specifically anti cheat - the last hurdle for many people.

    source
  • 52fighters@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    What’s the difference between big software companies and drug cartels? No, this is not the opening line of a joke.

    source
    • Credibly_Human@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Drugs can at least be fun?

      source
      • BillyTheKid@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Jokes aside, I loved Freelancer and that was Microsoft

        source
  • Siegfried@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Windows is the security risk

    source
  • JoMiran@lemmy.ml ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Image

    source
    • tux0r@feddit.org ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Image

      source
  • henfredemars@infosec.pub ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Well, they won’t be accessing my personal folders and files because I just won’t use Windows. Thanks but no thanks. That’s really creepy.

    source
    • BillyTheKid@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Pro move

      source
  • wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    As if recall wasn’t bad enough.

    source
    • EldritchFeminity@lemmy.blahaj.zone ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Recall 2.0

      source
  • TRock@feddit.dk ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Soon i will only be using windows for those games that do not run on linux yet

    source
    • IrateAnteater@sh.itjust.works ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      I’m lucky that the type of competitive shooters that all seem to be using kernel level anti-cheat, have never appealed to me. I ditched windows on my home stuff last year and there’s definitely no going back. Now if only industrial software writers would make Linux variants. Not going to hold my breath on that one though.

      source
      • TheTimeKnife@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        I literally just stopped playing those multiplayer games. A usable computer that doesn’t spy on me is more valuable than a handful of multiplayer games filled with jackasses. Plus once I learned what kernel level anti-cheat was, I understand why those games have so many problems and am completely unwilling to install their “anti-cheat” spyware that can just fuck with my kernel.

        source
  • Mostly_Gristle@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    At this point I can only assume that Microsoft is actively trying to punish me for using their products.

    source
    • Flagstaff@programming.dev ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Linux Mint Cinnamon is incredible, free to try/move to, and reversible.

      source
      • megabyteX@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        No, it’s not. Horrible and outdated in many aspects. Much better options out there.

        source
        • -> View More Comments
    • stoy@lemmy.zip ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Ever since Windows 7, Microsoft has shown to be a sadist.

      source
      • Ludicrous0251@piefed.zip ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Windows Vista would like a word.

        source
        • -> View More Comments
      • thisbenzingring@lemmy.sdf.org ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Windows ME has some shit to say… Then Windows 8 will be next to have a chat.

        source
        • -> View More Comments
  • wuffah@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    How long before you can’t turn this off or uninstall it, just like Edge, or Bitlocker, or TPM?

    source
    • anon5621@lemmy.ml ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

      Just pirate windows server or other enterprise editions which can be used only by business

      source
      • TommyJohnsFishSpot@lemy.lol ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

        Absolutely. I spent like 3 hours the other day trying to get a W11 vm running; trying to emulate TPM and faking secure boot. I gave up and installed server in 5 minutes 😑

        source
  • snoons@lemmy.ca ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Hey, I’ve seen nhis one before.

    source
  • hansolo@lemmy.today ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Oh, no thank you.

    source