Jim Skamarakas

The pdf995 bad press about TaxCut is making its way across the Internet. When I initially wrote TaxCut install spyware?  http://skamarakas.com/jim/2008/02/03/taxcut-installs-spyware , it was early in the tax season. Nothing existed about this third party product on the TaxCut website. If you go check today, you see a number of links all pointing to the same information without a date. Why is there no date on this support article? Can’t TaxCut tell us they just posted it yesterday or last year?

What does the article say? That pdf995 is left behind after you uninstall TaxCut. That still smells like spyware.

• It is installed with TaxCut without your approval
• Once installed, if you notice it, then remove it, it brings itself back without your permision
• If you remove it, you can continue to use the product UNTIL you do a check for updates
• If you do a “Check for updates to TaxCut”, pdf995 is slammed onto your system without your permission, prompting or notification

Is TaxCut distributing a maliscious piece of spyware called pdf995? Not my point, since I suffered no harm, and have not heard of anyone else either. That is not my issue with this piece of spyware. My issue is with software that brings along extra baggage, does not let you know in advance, and after it leaves, there is a something left behind. I can compae TaxCut 2007 to spending the night with a hot date with AIDS. You have fun for a few hours, but the date leaves something behind you did not expect, ask for, agree to, and if told about it in advance would have avoided.

Why is pdf995 so important? It isn’t. TaxCut in its efforts to increase profits and reduce costs decided to make some changes in its core products. That is what is expected for them to remain in business, stay competitive and be around next year. And I as a consumer have chosen to not have unknown pieces of spyware installed on my computers. And neither should you. This year my taxes are not being done by TaxCut. And I recommend that no one else uses it either till they fix this little piece of disease hanging underneath the surface. SONY rootkit anyone? Be an educated consumer and technology aware of what you pick up on our next late night encounter.

And thanks to the TaxCut representative who is trolling the Internet looking for bad articles about TaxCut to try and respond to them. Maybe they should Google for TaxCut pdf995. As other people move into tax season now that March is here, they should expect more questions about this bad business and technology mistake. And the image above is appropriate since it is about Americans fighting for what is right and against others taking advantage of them without fair representation.

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Categories: technology
Tags: business, computer, customer service, taxes