[Adama]

Hi everyone!

I was wondering if you guys know anything about the info that the Black Hat hackers will be releasing next week in their annual gathering in Las Vegas? Apparently they have discovered ways to hack into people's computers through the Gadgets in Vista and Win 7, and they'll be releasing that info to the public.

I've been a subscriber to the Windows Secrets newsletters for several years and they always send through some very interesting and relevant information.

This is a copy of some if the text in the latest one, titled "Kill those Vista and Win7 gadgets now!"

===

KILL THOSE VISTA AND WIN 7 GADGETS NOW!

By Woody Leonhard

In the unlikely chance that you're using Windows gadgets, you need to get rid of them — right now!

Those seemingly innocuous accessory apps that you stick onto your desktop, included with Vista and Windows 7, could be used to subvert your system.

Article continues here: http://windowssecret...n7-gadgets-now/.
===

So, if you didn't know about this, you might want to check out the Fix It article from MSFT.

Have a great weekend!

This post has been edited by bcappel: 23 July 2012 - 11:15 AM

[Flashorn]

Hey sweetie !

Bet that broke your heart not being able to use those gadgets

The last time you posted a screen shot of your desktop, they
were all over the place LOL!

I don't believe in them and never did. They just hog resources
and add processes.

BTW, how is that new notebook behaving?

Talk to you soon.



FLASHORN.

[LiveBrianD]

I'm not entirely sure I buy their argument - how are gadgets any more of an issue than they were before? I use them a little on the desktop (CPU usage and network monitor), but not on the laptop.

[Adama]

Flashorn, on 22 July 2012 - 09:10 AM, said:

Hey sweetie !

Bet that broke your heart not being able to use those gadgets

The last time you posted a screen shot of your desktop, they
were all over the place LOL!

I don't believe in them and never did. They just hog resources
and add processes.

BTW, how is that new notebook behaving?

Talk to you soon.


FLASHORN.

Hi Flash!!

LOL How you doin' my friend!? I love my Gadgets, I thought they were the coolest thing since ice cream. I have no idea what are you talking about... I only had Sticky Notes, Calendar, Clock and Weather (1 of each) on my Sidebar. LOL

I got rid of everything yesterday except for the Sidebar and the weather thingy. I will go and get the Fix It and get rid of the rest of it. I must confess I'm not too much of a happy camper right now, those Black Hatters sure can wreck a lot of things for simple computer users like me. oh well. I guess I'll just get used ot it.

My new lappy is working great, the only thing I do not like too much is that the Arrow keys are kind of small and cramped in the otherwise fine keyboard.

Have a great weekend!
Hugz

[Adama]

LiveBrianD, on 22 July 2012 - 09:21 AM, said:

I'm not entirely sure I buy their argument - how are gadgets any more of an issue than they were before? I use them a little on the desktop (CPU usage and network monitor), but not on the laptop.

"I'm not entirely sure...?" I think what's at stake here is very simple... if you have Gadgets anywhere, whether in a desktop or a laptop, they will be vulnerable to hackers - after the Black Hat hackers reveal how they can be messed with next Thursday.

You may interpret this in any number of ways, but that's just the POV of the experts at Windows Secrets newsletter. They have more knowledge than I do in all things related to Windows... so like the end of the article says "warn your friends" that's just what I did. What you do with the info is, well, just entirely up to you.

[coastie65]

I don't use them. I have enough clutter on my desktop as it is.

[ElfBane]

I would think that gadgets that don't use a 'feed' would be OK. I use CPU Usage, Network Meter, and Core Temp. I don't believe any of those use an external feed, all they should do is monitor their respective PC function.

So, would the passive gadgets still be ok?

[LincolnSpector]

Hi, Adama.

It's an excellent article and includes very important information.

But I believe that posting the full article is a copyright violation. You should just post the URL--http://windowssecret...n7-gadgets-now/.

Unlike most Windows Secrets articles, this one is available to non-members.

Lincoln

[LiveBrianD]

ElfBane, on 23 July 2012 - 03:19 AM, said:

I would think that gadgets that don't use a 'feed' would be OK. I use CPU Usage, Network Meter, and Core Temp. I don't believe any of those use an external feed, all they should do is monitor their respective PC function.

So, would the passive gadgets still be ok?

That's what I've been wondering...

[Adama]

ElfBane, on 23 July 2012 - 03:19 AM, said:

I would think that gadgets that don't use a 'feed' would be OK. I use CPU Usage, Network Meter, and Core Temp. I don't believe any of those use an external feed, all they should do is monitor their respective PC function.

So, would the passive gadgets still be ok?

Hi ElfBane,

To be honest, I really don't know that part. Is there anything in the Windows Secret website that talks about that?

[Adama]

LincolnSpector, on 23 July 2012 - 07:55 AM, said:

Hi, Adama.

It's an excellent article and includes very important information.

But I believe that posting the full article is a copyright violation. You should just post the URL--http://windowssecret...n7-gadgets-now/.

Unlike most Windows Secrets articles, this one is available to non-members.

Lincoln

Hi Lincoln,

Uh oh, sorry, I didn't know that. Thanks for letting me know. What do you suggest... could you delete this thread and then I can start up a new one with just the link?

http://windowssecret...in7-gadgets-now

If you can delete it, then please go ahead. Thanks!

This post has been edited by Adama: 23 July 2012 - 10:48 AM

[LincolnSpector]

Adama, on 23 July 2012 - 10:34 AM, said:

Hi ElfBane,

To be honest, I really don't know that part. Is there anything in the Windows Secret website that talks about that?

They have a lounge, where subscribers can post questions.

Lincoln

[LincolnSpector]

Adama, on 23 July 2012 - 10:38 AM, said:

Hi Lincoln,

Uh oh, sorry, I didn't know that. Thanks for letting me know. What do you suggest... could you delete this thread and then I can start up a new one with just the link?

http://windowssecret...in7-gadgets-now

If you can delete it, then please go ahead. Thanks!

It appears that someone has already done that.

Lincoln

This post has been edited by LincolnSpector: 24 July 2012 - 08:02 AM

[Adama]

LincolnSpector, on 24 July 2012 - 07:54 AM, said:

Adama, on 23 July 2012 - 10:38 AM, said:

Hi Lincoln,

Uh oh, sorry, I didn't know that. Thanks for letting me know. What do you suggest... could you delete this thread and then I can start up a new one with just the link?

http://windowssecret...in7-gadgets-now

If you can delete it, then please go ahead. Thanks!

It appears that someone has already done that.

Lincoln

Hi Lincoln, thanks for the heads up.

Thank you BCappel, your assistance is much appreciated.

[Adama]

Well, it's all done now - my final 2 gadgets have now gone into that mysterious and unknown world of the much loved and used Gadget Heaven.

*waves* Bye bye Weather Gadgets, I'm really gonna miss you. (//-, _ ,-\) *sniff, sniff*

[Car54]

An "admission" link from Microsoft: (from this link)

http://technet.micro...dvisory/2719662