“Presence detection”: how to prevent Windows 11 from knowing if you are behind your keyboard?

Tired of being monitored by your applications? Windows 11 will soon allow you to make yourself completely invisible.

After releasing the usual Patch Tuesday on Tuesday, which also fixes an actively exploited security flaw, Microsoft has just rolled out a new privacy setting in the beta version of Windows 11.

Microsoft will roll out a new privacy setting in Windows 11

Some Windows 11 PCs have an integrated presence sensor. The latter allows your screen to turn off automatically when you move away from your device, and vice versa when you approach it. Practical, this feature can help you save your computer’s battery or save a little time when you want to get back to work quickly.

More importantly, it can also be used to secure your PC by allowing your device to automatically lock itself when left unattended, thereby protecting your files. Speaking of security, Windows 11 beta build 22624.1610 let us spot the arrival of a brand new setting that should give you more control: “Presence detection”.

Presence detection: what is it?

If you’re wondering what the purpose of presence detection might be, know that it will give OS clients the ability to specifically select which apps can determine if they’re in front of their screen. In other words, you will be able to block or authorize certain applications wishing to use the presence sensor. As the site teams rightly remind us Bleeping Computerthis will prevent certain applications from collecting and using your data without your consent.

This is a very practical option, which will allow Windows 11 users to have even more control over privacy. To access it, all you have to do is go to the Windows 11 settings, then click on the Privacy and Security section, and finally select Presence detection.

Source : Bleeping Computer