What happened to Windows desktop gadgets?
Microsoft took down its online Gadget gallery this summer and issued a safety warning to Windows Vista and Windows 7 users about using the desktop miniprograms on their computers. Researchers found security flaws, and that certain gadgets from “untrusted sources†(like malicious hackers) could leave the computer vulnerable to infiltration or takeover from an intruder.
In response to the threat, Microsoft recommends applying a security update and disabling desktop Gadgets and the Windows Sidebar. The company has an advisory on its site that explains the issue, the Windows versions involved - and provides links to a Microsoft Fixit Solution script tha t automatically disables the Windows Sidebar and Gadgets feature.
