Tax Program Develops An Insulting Approach - TurboTax installs Spyware

The Wall Street Journal ^ | Thursday, January 30, 2003 | WALTER S. MOSSBERG

[TroutStalker]

The top two software packages for tax preparation have been largely static in their core features and user interfaces for years, but you'll notice a new attitude toward customers from one of the publishers this time around.

The programs are nearly identical, and in my annual reviews of H&R Block's TaxCut and TurboTax by Intuit I have mainly noted changes in ancillary features, and in the proliferation of various editions and versions that seem inspired more by marketing than by functionality.

[TroutStalker]

Morning bump.

[jpl]

Why in the world would I want to put my own sensitive financial data, however insignificant it may be, on the internet. At least at home, it is relatively secure behind hardware and software firewalls.

Good point. I have a feeling though that what these guys are doing is a trend that is only likely to increase over time. I fear that eventually it's going to be necessary for me to run two separate computer systems at home: one system to store data and do all the important software work that never gets connected to the internet, and another system that does absolutely nothing but connect to the web for surfing and the occasional download.