The reviews of Intuit’s TurboTax 2002 are in and most users are giving the perennially popular income tax software two thumbs down. At issue is C-Dilla software, commonly known as spyware, which Intuit installed to stop illegal copying of TurboTax.

Intuit’s move has caused many new and long-time users to post their concerns online. At CNET.com, 90 percent of 473 reviewers said they wouldn’t recommend TurboTax Deluxe 2002 while over at Amazon.com, the deluxe version garnered a two-star rating out of a possible five, based on 363 reviews.

The online reviewers are unhappy with a number of features, including the fact that the software can only be activated on one computer and that the C-Dilla software does not automatically uninstall when TurboTax is uninstalled. Some users also feel that the spyware allows Intuit to collect personal information from their computers.

On its service and support website, Intuit insists that product activation is only meant to ensure customer compliance with its software license and services agreement. In addition, the company says that a user’s private data is not transmitted back to Intuit.

Not all users are sold on Intuit’s claims and many website reviewers said they have bought other tax software.