Usually, when we/I talk about cloud threats, it’s usually in the context of something negative – data loss, privacy breach, etc.

In this case, Microsoft collaborated with security researchers, saw what damage could be done to Windows via Windows Gadgets and decided to proactively shutdown this annoying/useless feature of Windows.

The UPside: Great move MS – proactive security works.

The DOWNside:  Just as MS (and Amazon, Google, RIM, CISCO, etc) can remotely disable software, they can also ENABLE security-destroying features.

Request:  Can MS proactively kill the WINDOWS LIVE garbage that gets installed as well?  That would be awesome 🙂

From ZDnet.com:

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.

Gadgets are comprised of JS, CSS and HTML and are application that the Windows operating system has embedded by default. As a result there are a number of interesting attack vectors that are interesting to explore and take advantage of. We will be talking about our research into creating malicious gadgets, misappropriating legitimate gadgets and the sorts of flaws we have found in published gadgets,” the researchers said.Microsoft was already planning to deprecate Sidebar and Gadgets in the upcoming Windows 8 but, after working with Schkatov and Kohlenberg ahead of Black Hat, the company decided to push for the immediate death of the platform.

via Security flaws signal early death of Windows Gadgets | ZDNet.