Turbo Tax & SafeCast

[Computer Deb]

I was watching the Screen Savers on Tech TV the other night and they mentioned that the new Turbo Tax has SafeCast "spyware" built in.

I have used Turbo Tax for the last five years and love it. This year, I received a disk from Turbo Tax in the mail that I just had to activate by paying Intuit via credit card, etc. online. I did that.

Does anyone know anything more about this? I did a search and found Safecast folder, but nothing in it. I haven't started my taxes yet, so maybe it's not active until I file?

Any thoughts?

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Look for hidden folders?

Also right click on the folders and go to properties. See if there's any space used (size/kilobytes).

Watch out!

I think Mjc has a vendetta with Turbo Tax, I only know enough to steer clear of them. Not only malware but now, "paid for malware???" !!!

[mjc]

FFT, right, my vendetta is precisely that, you are paying to have malware inatalled.

One of things about Safecast/Cdilla is that there are various levels of "protection"---(think mob movie here) that the application publisher can turn on, Intuit was never really straight forward about what level they are using, the install of the product is buried with in the EULA, not as separate EULA or disclosed up front, it has the potential for collecting data about you and your installed software (that is info gleaned from previous version of Macrovision's materials about it, the current online versions have had certain lines removed), and it (Macrovision's stuff) has the ability to diasbled CD burning (definitely prevents making copies of the "protected" product, but can disable burning in general).

Intuit is now offering an uninstaller for Safecast, but using it will prevent the use of TurboTax, so you will need to let Safecast run until you are finished with using TT and then when you uninstall you can run the Safecast uninstaller.

The Safecast files are hidden and spread to various folders of you drive (look for cdilla.xxx files).

[Budfred]

I've decided to go with TaxCut this year because of all this garbage. I have used TurboTax for probably 10 years, but I will save $10 this year and avoid this malware crap.

Budfred

[Computer Deb]

Today I installed Spybot and it found the Safecast immediately. I noticed the Cdilla folder and knew it was not something that I had installed ... Unfortunately, since I have already paid Turbo Tax, I am going to finish my taxes. Any other advice?

[Budfred]

I believe the Cdilla is there mainly to block copying CDs, so you don't have to worry about that if you don't plan to do any until after your taxes are done.

The Safecast is apparently the spyware. You can disable or even delete it until you actually use your TurboTax. Apparently TurboTax will reinstall it if it is deleted and it won't work without it.

Budfred

[Rick]

Taxes finished
Material used?
1 pen
1 8x11 piece of paper ( Scratch Notes )
fed and state supplied forms
Time 1 Hour

Never have seen a need for tax software

[Lucias_Clay]

Rick yes I used that method for years.Used a differant program for 1999&2000 of the internet used turbo tax(free version) of the internet for 2001 I have searched and could not find any of the specified files.
The main reason for using these programs is getting refund in days instead of months. probably will use teletax this year. used it for state tax last year and it is just as fast, and less likely to be intercepted by hackers.

[Budfred]

I've used tax software for years now and I like it a lot more now than I used to. This year I will get TaxCut Deluxe for $20 and will get the State version, a legal program, Norton Antivirus and free efiling after the rebates are all done. I will probably end up paying closer to $30 with the sales tax and postage figured in, but that is a lot of stuff for $30. I can do it whenever I want at home and file when I am ready. I have done the race to the Post Office at midnight on April 15 and I don't have any interest in doing it again.

Budfred