I installed mine already before I read about this. I feel violated that this "spyware" is now residing on my brand new laptop

Originally posted by HighFlyer I installed mine already before I read about this. I feel violated that this "spyware" is now residing on my brand new laptop

Exactly. Fortunately I've got a spare PC on which I can run QT and then format the HD, etc. but I obviously shouldn't have to do that. I'm hoping that by the time I have to do my taxes (in April) there will be some resolution to this outrageous behaviour by Intuit (or at least someone somewhere posts a hack for disabling their garbage.) If I find anything like that I'll post it here. IMO this is one instance where hacking, cracking, etc. is completely justified.

Something else for people to get worried about. A friend of mine just got and installed Quicken XG. Apparently that too now has some sort of scheme to prevent installing more than once. Unlike QT, which you (hopefully) use once during tax season and can then uninstall, this one you have to run all the time. The likelihood that you'd need to reinstall Quicken, say after a PC or HD upgrade, is much higher. For the time being, though, users of Quicken 200x have no urgent need to upgrade, but as users of 1999 found last fall, our time will eventually come

And thanks for the PM Highflyer. I appreciate that.

I noticed Intuit posted an uninstaller for Turbotax (US version) within the link of the article that Bylo posted:

http://www1.turbotaxsupport.com/def...=&DocID=836

I'll have to wait until mid April to find out if it works. But even then, this is almost like getting your car back after a car accident.... it never feels the same no matter how well it's fixed

Next year it'll be back to using pencils and a spreadsheet unless some feasible alternative comes to market. I'd rather sit through the agony of filling out forms than support their arrogant ways.

Originally posted by HighFlyer I noticed Intuit posted an uninstaller

Assuming you trust the uninstaller to really uninstall everything

And who the hell is v4c23.net (who hosts the download)? Why should I trust them not to add something else?

There ought to be a law against....

Originally posted by bylo The QT02 box says it does 6 returns and unlimited returns where the NI is under $25,000. You may want to verify if the NI was raised on the web version too. You may also want to warn people about C-Dilla et al spyware that's apparently now in QT. See e.g. http://www.extremetech.com/article2...3,834915,00.asp

The Taxwiz software will also do unlimited under $25k.

The web max is still $20k for QT. I wasn't able to find any info on whether you can do free Taxwiz Online if you're under $20k.

I'm hoping the free Ad-Aware 6 Standard, coming out next month, will address the C-dilla issue.

http://www.lavasoft.de/

Originally posted by rakerman I'm hoping the free Ad-Aware 6 Standard, coming out next month, will address the C-dilla issue.

As I understand it, SafeCast/C-Dilla has (at least) two components.

One goes out to the Internet and is used to register QT as well as (it seems) report on CD burner use. Presumably AdAware and similar products will deal with that.

The other though, monitors CD burner usage. It supposedly prevents you from cloning a QT CD. (Guess Intuit never thought that someone might clone the CD before they installed QT or clone it on another PC, etc. Doh!) There have also been reports of problems using CD burners for legitimate purposes after SC/C-D have installed themselves. These may be false accusations, or maybe there are bugs in MacroVision software, or maybe it's really true. I really don't know, don't want to know and don't want to need to know. Like HighFlyer says, it makes me feel violated, especially since I have no intention of cheating Intuit in any way

More on the issue:

http://news.com.com/2100-1040-982811.html?tag=fd_top

"Gulbransen said Intuit is working with Macrovision to develop a version of SafeCast that runs only when TurboTax is active, and that includes other changes designed to make the technology less obtrusive.

"We're working with Macrovision to get away from its current setup and get away from having a memory-resident application," he said. "Product activation is not going to go away--we're just looking at ways to make it work more in line with what our customers have said they expect." "


Still doesn't mean the boycott has ended

From http://rtnews.globetechnology.com/s...hnology/techBN/

According to a spokeswoman for Intuit in Canada, the Canadian edition of the company's product (called QuickTax) does not use Macrovision's SafeCast. Instead, it has used a proprietary security system for the past couple of years that does not rely on a memory-resident program to prevent piracy, she said.

Originally posted by bylo From http://rtnews.globetechnology.com/s...hnology/techBN/

In that case, does the 2001 bypass work for the 2002 edition?

Now it's posted on their site

Intuit Canada does not collect any personal information about its customers without their prior consent. Contrary to several media reports, Intuit Canada does not use SafeCast/Macrovision/C-Dilla or any "Spyware" technology in any of its QuickTax or ImpôtRapide products.

http://knowledgebase.quicktax.ca/de...ct%20Activation

Has anyone investigated exactly what they use?

Still, next year I'm going to wait until the last T slip has been received before installing it (and only on my old P200).

Originally posted by HighFlyer Has anyone investigated exactly what they use?

If it's like last year then they just access the Internet to activate, check for updates and finally, NetFile.

In any case, I highly recommend something like ZoneAlarmPro that catches all outbound traffic from your PC and allows you to allow/reject it on a case-by-case (either each occurance or for a specifc program) basis. It's allowed me to shut down stuff like RealPlayer without having to uninstall it. I can still use RealPlayer to play what I want, but they don't get to find out when and what I play.

Does anyone know how I can do my taxes on one computer and print on another? Do you have to activate Quicktax in order to use the program? Or can you still use the program but it won't let you print?

Help would be appreciated Thanks!

Originally posted by Twilight Does anyone know how I can do my taxes on one computer and print on another?

Yes

Do you have to activate Quicktax in order to use the program? Or can you still use the program but it won't let you print?

You can't activate QT on the computer you are printing from. Just use the "Print Later" command from the File menu, and it will save it as a .pdf. Then print the .pdf from the other computer.

Again i'd like to say what spyware? Do not beleave everything you read here. I installed the new quicktax and it asked to access the internet (through zonealarm) for registration and the update but never since. Just ran the new adaware (version 6) and it found nothing.

Even if quicktax contained spyware (which it does not as far as I can figure) , it is the best program out there and is well worth the money.

Originally posted by tlamm Again i'd like to say what spyware? Do not beleave everything you read here.

Or at least first read everything here before reaching any conclusions

Both HighFlyer and I posted official Intuit quotes upthread that clearly stated there is no SafeCast/C-Dilla in QT in Canada. Apparently the ExtremeTech "journalist" who wrote the open letter to Intuit falsely jumped to the conclusion that because QT had copy registration last year it must also have had SafeCast/C-Dilla.

I installed the new quicktax and it asked to access the internet (through zonealarm) for registration and the update but never since. Just ran the new adaware (version 6) and it found nothing.

That's the same way it behaved last year. (Plus another access when you NetFile.)

Even if quicktax contained spyware (which it does not as far as I can figure) , it is the best program out there and is well worth the money.

If QT had spyware I wouldn't use it, or at least use it from an expendable PC. But I agree that the tax-preparation part of QT beats the competition hands down.