This week Microsoft revealed
that security flaws have been found in the sidebar and gadgets found
in Windows 7 and Windows Vista. Microsoft is saying that gadgets
“can harm your computer and can access your computer's files, show
you objectionable content, or change their behavior at any time.”
They are recommending that all Windows 7 and Vista users disable
their sidebars and all gadgets immediately.
What exactly is the threat?
Apparently, a person with the right now-how can access your running
gadgets and use them to run malicious code. This would allow them to
download and install viruses, transmit your personal information or
conduct attacks on other systems. All of these actions would be
performed without your knowing.
This appears to be a very
serious threat, and a fundamental flaw in the sidebar and gadget
coding. Microsoft is not releasing a patch to make the programs more
secure, they are simply telling you to turn them off altogether.
Microsoft has also dropped gadgets from the upcoming Windows 8.
What do you need to do? I
am attaching a link to the bottom of this post that will download a
Microsoft Fix It program that will automatically disable your sidebar
and gadgets. If you are running Windows 7 or Vista and still have
not deactivated your gadgets and sidebar, I would strongly recommend
that you download and run this program.
Microsoft Fix-It to disable gadgets and sidebars:
No comments:
Post a Comment