Microsoft Urges Users to Shut Down Windows Gadgets or Risk Attack

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Microsoft Offers Robo-Tool For Killing Desktop Gadgets and Sidebar Due ..............

[h=1]Microsoft Offers Robo-Tool For Killing Desktop Gadgets and Sidebar Due to Vulnerability Concerns[/h]

Are you disappointed that Windows 8 might not support Desktop Gadgets?
Then you really won't like this news: Microsoft wants you to stop using them on Windows 7 and Vista, too. Immediately.
That's not because of some deep-rooted hate for the visual helpers, but because of concerns that hackers could use new Gadget and Sidebar exploits to deep-root your PC.

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/ne...adgets_and_sidebar_due_vulnerability_concerns

 

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Microsoft recommends you disable Windows Gadgets amid security concerns

Microsoft has made available a small fix that disables all gadgets and disables the "sidebar" engine that runs the gadgets in Windows Vista and Windows 7, amid unspecified security vulnerabilities that have come up. Gadgets were originally introduced with Windows Vista back in 2007.

http://www.winbeta.org/news/microsoft-recommends-you-disable-windows-gadgets-amid-security-concerns

 

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Re: Microsoft Offers Robo-Tool For Killing Desktop Gadgets and Sidebar Due ..........

Another source

http://www.computerworld.com/s/arti...plan_disclosures?source=rss_keyword_microsoft

 

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Microsoft Urging Customers To Disable Windows Gadgets

In a security advisory released on Tuesday, Microsoft announced that it has released a fix that will disable the Windows Sidebar and Gadgets on supported editions of Windows Vista and Windows 7. While many end-users may pout that they can no longer play virtual piano or giggle at their kitty cat clock, Microsoft insists it's in everyone's best interest, as vulnerabilities have been discovered that will allow remote code execution.

"Disabling the Windows Sidebar and Gadgets can help protect customers from vulnerabilities that involve the execution of arbitrary code by the Windows Sidebar when running insecure Gadgets," Microsoft reports. "In addition, Gadgets installed from untrusted sources can harm your computer and can access your computer's files, show you objectionable content, or change their behavior at any time."

http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Wi...ty-Advisory-Black-Hat,16265.html#xtor=RSS-181

 

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Rather than fix vulnerabilities with Gadgets and the Sidebar in Windows Vista and Windows 7, Microsoft is advising users to disable the features altogether.

Gadgets and Sidebar allow users to add visual information and small programs to the Windows desktop, including clock faces, music players and RSS feed readers.




Now, Microsoft has issued a Fix It solution to disable Gadgets and the Sidebar. These features, if left enabled, may allow the execution of arbitrary code, and could allow attackers to take complete control of a person’s system, Microsoft warns in a Knowledge Base article.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2590...shut_down_windows_gadgets_or_risk_attack.html