Question about QuickBooks 2003

spyware?

[Rachel]

I'm finally getting ready to upgrade from 2000 Pro to 2003 Pro, but saw a review that mentioned QuickBooks automatically installing Gator. If you remove it with AdAware, QB "tells you that you are trying to open a document created with a newer version than your software".

I did a search for QB here, but didn't find anything. Can anybody verify this for me?

Thanks so much.

[rcjordan]

Hi Rachel,

Based on your tip a quick search turns up a few software reviews which seem to confirm that spyware is bundled in QB2003. Because I know that some competitors use reviews to mount MISinformation campaigns, I hesitate to take any negative product review claim at face value unless it's from a more authoritative source than the ones I've been able to turn up. I'm still QB2001 (and it appears I'll be staying that way until this is sorted out).

[rcjordan]

<just triangulating>

[gator20.gator.com...]

Gator.com investors include:

Investor AB
US Venture Partners
Technology Crossover Ventures
Greylock
Andy Bechtolsheim (Founder of Sun Microsystems)
Scott Cook (Founder of Intuit)
Denis Coleman (Founder of Symantec, Visioneer)
Craig Johnson (Founder of Venture Law Group)
Garage.com

[lorax]

Oooo good catch rc. I'll be staying with my old copy as well. Has anyone heard something from Intuit regarding this?

[rcjordan]

<more circumstantial evidence -but the plot definitely thickens>

they've shared the same media company [eyescream.com]

[eyescream.com...]

I've searched the intuit support forums (such as they are), lorax, but there's no mention of gator

[lorax]

Apparently thier SN id system is what's tripping the spyware watchers

Customers are also complaining about Safecast, the Macrovision security software Intuit uses to verify activation numbers.

Read more... [news.com.com]

[lorax]

I also found this [turbotaxsupport.com]

[rcjordan]

Yes, I saw the C-Dilla info (and an article about a class-action lawsuit) but it always references TurboTax and I could find no mention of QB. However, it's certainly conceivable that spyware claims made against one product have spilled over into another.

[Rachel]

Thanks, guys, for working to verify this. Very interesting! I've been trying to do the same thing, and am a little surprised I haven't found more.

I guess one good thing is that it has me investigating other options for my accounting program. I hadn't really considered anyone but QB, and WOW, their newer versions have some really bad customer reviews!

Thanks again for all the help.

[rcjordan]

>hadn't really considered anyone but QB, and WOW, their newer versions have some really bad customer reviews!

I'll have to second that, but mainly because I've hit a near-fatal flaw myself in QB2001 having to do with backup problems and the inability to archive past years and reduce the data file sizes (unlike Quicken).

[lorax]

>> I could find no mention of QB.

I found a post from someone saying he/she has verified that QB requires Gator. The funny (or sad) part is I've seen the same post on at least a dozen different websites all reviewing the QB 2003 product. Could just be someone with a burr under his sadle.

[Rachel]

That's what I was thinking, Lorax. Almost all of the reviews were bad, but that one was the only one I could find mentioning Gator. Seems like more people would be raising heck if it was truly the case. I guess I'll waste a couple hours tomorrow seeing if I can get an answer from Intuit. heehee

[Rachel]

Just got off the phone with Intuit.

He said that Gator is definitely not bundled with QB2003.

But, he also told me that there IS a program in Quickbooks that "unscrupulous companies" could use to track and spy, but that they use it mainly for security. I have no clue what he meant, and he wasn't sure what the program was. Referred me to the privacy page of their website.

I don't know if this clears things up or if I'm just more confused than ever! :) Thought I'd let you know what I had found out, though.