If you must use gadgets, only download from reputable sources (e.g., Win7Gadgets.com, GadgetsRevived.com) and scan every file with VirusTotal.
For the power users, tools like the CPU Meter and All CPU Meter were indispensable for watching live performance spikes.
Windows 7 desktop gadgets are small, specialized applications like clocks, calendars, and CPU meters that live directly on your desktop to provide at-a-glance information . Unlike Windows Vista, these gadgets do not require a sidebar and can be moved anywhere on your screen. O'Reilly books +1 How to Use Desktop Gadgets Opening the Gallery
Microsoft discovered a serious vulnerability in the Gadgets platform. Because these widgets could pull data from the internet, hackers found ways to exploit them to run malicious code on a user's computer. Rather than overhaul the aging system, Microsoft decided to discontinue the feature entirely with a security update, eventually removing the sidebar experience altogether in subsequent Windows versions.
Does anyone else miss the Windows 7 Desktop Gadgets? 👇