OneDrive

Microsoft Copilot Can Surface Overshared Data Despite Permission Boundaries

Microsoft documentation states that Copilot only accesses data authorized for the signed-in user, yet default SharePoint and OneDrive sharing settings often grant broad access that the AI then respects literally. This creates accidental oversharing risks where Copilot retrieves documents shared too widely years earlier. Administrators can use Content Management Assessment and Data access governance reports, including the EEEU report covering the top 100 sites shared in the past 28 days, to identify problematic content. Two distinct controls exist: Restricted Access Control removes access entirely while Restricted Content Discovery hides items from Copilot and search without altering permissions. Sensitivity labels combined with encryption can exclude programmatic access for agents, though Microsoft does not guarantee outright blocking. Interaction logs stored in Microsoft Purview retain user prompts, Copilot responses, and citations to accessed documents, providing an audit trail for oversharing incidents.

Microsoft Permanently Locks Hacked Account After Security Changes, Erasing 25 Years of OneDrive Data and Purchases

A streamer named Joshua Kane lost access to his Microsoft account containing 25 years of digital files, family photos, and purchased content after it was compromised by an attacker who altered security settings. Microsoft confirmed the account belonged to him and had been breached but refused to restore access, citing internal policies that prevent manual recovery once security information is changed by an unauthorized party. The company stated that OneDrive content cannot be extracted due to its encryption architecture and privacy protections, leaving the data permanently inaccessible even to Microsoft engineers. Kane was advised to create a new account and repurchase games and services, while the incident quickly gained over two million views on social media and prompted other users to share similar experiences. The case underscores the risks of insufficient account protection and the permanent consequences of account takeovers when two-factor authentication and backup strategies are not properly implemented.