Heads Up on an Important QuickBooks Security Issue
It’s Gabrielle Fontaine with a heads-up critical update for
everyone currently (or formerly) using QuickBooks software.
You may also want to pass this information along to any of
your clients who are currently using QuickBooks software on their own.
Intuit, the company that makes QuickBooks, just announced that
there is a potential security risk that has been found that
would allow hackers to access the data on your computer.
The threat is due to a newly discovered vulnerability in
Microsoft’s ActiveX technology, which is commonly used by many
popular computer programs.
===================================
QuickBooks Versions Affected By The Threat
===================================
All QuickBooks Simple Start, Pro, Premier and Enterprise Solutions
versions, 2009 and older (including trial versions) are vulernable.
The new QuickBooks 2010 versions, however, are not affected.
Intuit updates its currently supported versions from time to time
by releasing software patches. Each update or patch is given a
“Release” number for easy identification.
Right now, downloading Intuit’s updates is the only immediate way
to eliminate the vulnerability in currently supported versions of
QuickBooks. In time, Microsoft will likely release a patch with
their regular security updates for ActiveX.
===================================
How To Protect Your Computer Now
===================================
All QuickBooks users of 2007, 2008 and 2009 versions should verify
that they have downloaded and installed the most current updates.
You can check if your software is up to date by opening QuickBooks
and then using the F2 key.
These are the most current updates that include a patch which
eliminates this new threat:
QuickBooks 2009 – R8
QuickBooks 2008 – R10
QuickBooks 2007 – R13
The best way to stay up to date is to enable the automatic update
feature AND to install those updates when prompted.
You can also manually download the latest updates directly from the
QuickBooks website.
http://support.quickbooks.intuit.com/support/productupdates.aspx
===================================
If You Are Running QuickBooks 2006 or Older….
===================================
If you are running QuickBooks 2006 or older, you are vulnerable to
this security threat. Since these versions are no longer supported
by Intuit, there is no downloadable update. Your best defense is to
upgrade your QuickBooks software to a supported version (2007-2009)
as soon as possible.
You can find both 2009 and the newest 2010 versions on amazon.com
Additionally, if you have an older version of QuickBooks installed
on your computer but it is no longer in use, remove it by
uninstalling the program to remove the ActiveX threat.
===================================
If You Are Running a Non-US Version of QuickBooks….
===================================
For Canadian versions of QuickBooks, you can download the updates
directly from the Intuit website:
For UK versions of QuickBooks, you can download the updates
directly from the Intuit website:
===================================
I’ve Made a Video to Show You Exactly What to Do
===================================
As an Advanced Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, I want to see you
get the most out of your QuickBooks software. That’s why I created
my free video training blog, QB QuickTips.
My latest video post walks you through each of the steps outlined above to
show you exactly how to protect yourself from this new ActiveX threat.
If you want to stay informed about critical updates for QuickBooks
like this one, as well as learn insider tricks and tips on how to
use this powerful software for your business success, be sure and
sign up for the QB QuickTips notification list.
You’ll also receive private, subscriber-only bonuses that are not
even posted on the blog.
Get your free subcription here: