Gadgets are easy-to-use mini programs that provide
information at a glance and offer simple desktop access to tools you
use most often. For example, you can use gadgets to display business
data, weather information, news updates, traffic maps, Internet
radio streams, and even slide shows of online photo albums on
your desktop. A malicious gadget, like any malicious software, can be
programmed to access your computer's files, collect your
personal information, or show you unwanted content. To download and use gadgets safely, take the same safety
precautions that you take with any other program or file you download from the Web: | • | Know and trust the source of the gadget. | | • | Don't download or run gadgets from an Administrator-level
user account. | | • | Use parental controls to keep children from
downloading unsafe gadgets. | | • | Install up-to-date antispyware and anti-virus
software. | | • | Keep Windows Vista up-to-date. | | • | Turn off Windows Sidebar if you don't want to use
it. |
Know and trust the source of the gadgetYou can download gadgets for Windows Vista from a
variety of Web sites, such as
Windows Live
Gallery. You install gadgets on Windows Sidebar, which
helps you organize your gadgets and move them around the
desktop. Remember that many Web sites, including Windows Live
Gallery, host community-generated content, which is content
that anyone can make available to others. To check the publisher of a gadget1. | Click the
Download button for
the gadget. | 2. | Click
Open in the dialog
box that opens, and then click
Allow in the next
dialog box. |
A dialog box like the following opens and displays
the publisher of the gadget. If you are unsure about the
source or publisher, click
Don't Run. Do not
download or run the program or gadget. For information about sites you can download from with
confidence, see
When to trust a website. Do not download or run gadgets from an Administrator-level
user accountWhenever you surf the Web, it's a good idea to use a
limited user account, which is the default standard user
configuration in
Windows Vista. When most programs attempt to perform a
potentially dangerous operation that requires administrator
privileges, Windows Vista asks you for your consent before
allowing that program to run. For more information, see
Windows Vista User Account Control. Use parental controls to keep children from
downloading and installing gadgetsWindows Vista includes a powerful
set of
parental control features to help you monitor, manage,
and administer your children's computer use. You can use parental controls to block your children
from downloading all files, such as gadgets and other
programs, as follows: Install up-to-date antivirus and antispyware
softwareGadgets can contain malicious or unwanted software
that tracks your activities or simply slows your computer.
Try new antivirus and comprehensive computer health services
like
Windows Live OneCare. To help prevent spyware or other
potentially unwanted software, use Windows Defender, which
comes with
Windows Vista. Keep Windows Vista up-to-dateThe easiest way to do this is to
turn
on automatic updating and use the recommended setting,
which downloads recommended updates and installs them on a
schedule you set. This is the best way to ensure you have the
latest version of gadgets that ship with Windows Vista, and
that potentially vulnerable gadgets are
disabled. Turn off Windows Sidebar if you don't want to use
itYou can also choose to discontinue the use of gadgets
and turn off the Windows Sidebar entirely. To turn Windows
Sidebar off immediately, right-click the Sidebar icon on the
Windows Vista task bar 
, and click
Exit. To keep Windows
Sidebar from automatically starting when Windows Vista
starts, right-click the sidebar and then click
Properties. Clear the
Start Sidebar when
Windows starts checkbox as shown and then click
OK.
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