Intuit fixes QuickBooks flaw that vaporizes data from Mac desktop

Problem with automatic software update causes stir among users of accounting system

By Brian Fonseca

December 17, 2007 12:00 PM ET

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Computerworld - Users running Intuit Inc.'s Apple Macintosh version of QuickBooks Pro 2006 and 2007 today were warned that an automatic software update flaw can eradicate stored files, documents or folders from a desktop and hard drive.

Intuit late this morning said it had fixed the flaw by correcting an internal server that had caused the problem. The company said the message should no longer appear to users opening up the QuickBooks application.

Intuit said it has not been able to come up with a resolution to allow end users to recover files that were lost as a result of the problem. The company said it is working on that but could not predict when a fix would be issued. Intuit officials could not be reached for comment on the flaw.

According to Intuit, the automatic update for QuickBooks Pro Mac 2006 had displayed the message, "There is not enough space to install." The flawed update instantly removed stored files from the Mac desktop folder.

The software update problem caused a significant stir among QuickBooks Pro Mac users, who were shocked on Monday to discover that a seemingly harmless 100KB software update could mercilessly wipe away their desktop data. An Intuit employee posting on the company's QuickBooks online forum said the company hasn't received any reports of the flaw affecting 2005 versions of the software.

Intuit is suggesting that end users back up their entire desktop before opening QuickBooks, or move their files from the desktop to an alternate location to ensure that their data is properly protected from the QuickBooks update flaw.

Read more about storage security in Computerworld's Storage Security Knowledge Center.

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