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According to The Verge’s “Microsoft advises users to disable Windows Gadgets following security vulnerability fears” article, it’s wise to disable Windows Gadgets feature on Windows Vista and Windows 7 as a temporary fix solution for the security issue in which hackers can take over Windows systems when users install malicious Windows gadgets. So, it seems that the hackers can become a system administrator or a user if he or she can arbitrarily send commands to a gadget which has been designed to be malicious. Also, The Verge mentioned that Microsoft will fade out Windows Gadgets feature on Windows 8, and so you won’t be able to use Windows Gadgets on Windows 8.
How to turn of Windows Gadgets feature? Follow the steps below to turn off Windows Gadgets feature on Windows Vista and Windows 7.
- Open up Control Panel
- Click on Programs
- Click on Programs and Features
- On the left panel, click on Turn Windows features on or off
- Uncheck the box which labeled as Windows Gadget Platform
Sources:
- http://www.theverge.com/2012/7/11/3151143/windows-gadgets-security-vulnerability
- http://www.howtogeek.com/?post_type=post&p=3255
Related articles
- Microsoft advises users to disable Windows Gadgets following security vulnerability fears (theverge.com)
- Microsoft Killing Desktop Gadgets in Windows 8? (tomshardware.com)
- Microsoft to Remove Desktop Gadgets from Windows 8 (news.softpedia.com)
- Microsoft reportedly killing off desktop gadget support in Windows 8 (theverge.com)
- Microsoft Might Axe Windows Gadgets, Is That A Promise? (olivetechnews.com)
- Microsoft urges death of Windows gadgets as researchers plan disclosures (techworld.com.au)
- Is desktop gadget support gone in Windows 8? (neowin.net)
- Microsoft Addresses XML Core Services Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (news.softpedia.com)
- Microsoft Patch Tuesday Plugs XML Flaw (techweekeurope.co.uk)
- Microsoft Fixes XML Flaw as Attackers Circle in Patch Tuesday Update (eweek.com)
- July 2012 Patch Tuesday (laws.qualys.com)
