http://www.zdnet.com/security-flaws-signal-early-death-of-windows-gadgets-7000000724/
Security flaws signal early death of Windows Gadgets
Summary: Microsoft is pulling the plug on the Windows Sidebar and Gadgets platform ahead of news that security vulnerabilities will be disclosed at this year's Black Hat conference.
Microsoft is speeding up plans to kill off the Windows Gadget platform after receiving word that serious security vulnerabilities will be disclosed at the upcoming Black Hat security conference.
According to a brief abstract from the Black Hat site, researchers Mickey Shkatov and Toby Kohlenberg plan to discuss weaknesses associated with Windows Sidebar and Gadgets and demonstrate "nastiness" that can be done on the platform.
This automated Fix-It will disable the Windows Sidebar experience and all Gadget functionality on affected machines.
Sidebar and Gadgets kill off.