The problem was that Windows 7 gadgets had no security whatsoever, the only security setting you could have for them was "everything all the time" (there were theoretical config.options you could use that tightened things up a bit, but they weren't actually used). So you had the situation of ActiveX circa 1995 in a current OS that was touted as very secure (or at least "we tried really hard to make it very secure"). The issue wasn't why they discontinued it, it was how it ever got out the door in that state in the first place.

That's like saying that gonorrhea isn't as bad as syphilis.

The Chewbacca defence! Devilishly clever...

It's someone who has been active in the crypto/security community for awhile now. Personal details are pretty scarce (i.e. it could be a front for the NSA for all anyone knows), but the persona has been active in crypto. If you want something to Google on try "alyssa rowan cryptography".

If it's the real Alyssa Rowan tweeting that then it's a pretty reliable source.

There's an even closer-to-food analogy for this: If you want a good Italian pizza, get a Greek to make it. I have no idea why this works, but the best Italian pizzas always tend to be made by someone called Nikos or Costas.

Saying "would you like fries with that" doesn't really count as working in a restaurant though...

Other materials used include chewing gum, rubber bands, old newspapers, and spit.

Interesting to see that the supposed origin is northeastern China, which is where the Japanese special unit 731 carried out biological warfare experiments during WWII, polluting large areas with bioweapons products. Perhaps this is a case of the chickens coming home to roost?

Yup, twenty-five whole dollars. That's the price of several Big Macs, with fries!. Shameless what some CAs will charge.

(Not defending the CA racket here, but $25 isn't really that much when they give the certs out for free. In any case why revoke them, just replace them with a new, free cert. Yes, I know someone can spoof the server using the old cert, but if you want to save the $25...).

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn.

My mother was eaten by Cthulhu you insensitive clod!

"OK, so you have a PhD. Just don't touch anything".