The good and bad of Wikileaks’ Vault 7 dump

Separating the wheat from the chaff.

On Tuesday (March 7, 2017 if you’re reading from the future) Wikileaks released the Vault 7 CIA files. These dumped a ton of information along with some Tweets about how journalists were supposed to be afraid that the CIA has tapped into everyone’s phone and that encrypted messaging has been hacked. This produced the expected results, where words were quickly typed to let you know how everything has changed and this is some horrible new thing you should be afraid of. Wikileaks is good at that; they know how to dangle a carrot and make people spread their message regardless of any facts or truth. P.T. Barnum would approve.

But after taking the time to look at the claims and dig beyond the hyperbole, there are some things to be learned from the Vault 7 files. They should make you concerned, but not afraid, when you use your phone to do anything you wouldn’t want the rest of the world to see.

More: What is encryption?

The good news is that regardless of what’s being claimed, secure encryption methods appear to be secure. WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal are popular messaging apps that support tend to end encryption and were called out by Wikileaks in connection with the leaked materials. Further inspection of the claims shows that the actual encryption hasn’t been cracked. These apps don’t even appear in any of the files from the CIA by name, and the tools and tricks mentioned in the leaked documents say nothing about “bypassing” the encryption used by them. In fact, it all supports how strong the encryption is and shows that Wikileaks was just playing fast and loose with the news as they’re prone to do.

The takeaway from Vault 7 is that encryption methods really are strong and we should be using them.

The understanding from Wikileaks that your Android or iPhone isn’t secure is the same type of over the top claim that’s true on some level, but stretching the truth just enough to be sensational. There are plenty of valid tools to exploit known security issues for Android and iOS detailed in the leaks. The biggest issue is that none of them are new: they’re the same threats and vulnerabilities you see people like me talking about when we say you need to take your privacy a little more seriously. Some have been patched, some never worked as advertised and most involve someone having your phone in their hands connected to a computer. We should all be concerned about these things and it’s why we claim security patches are so important. But nothing leaked should make you more afraid to use your phone than you were last week.

The bad news from the CIA files is how the security landscape has changed. Where surveillance used to be casting a wide net then filtering out particular results for a closer look, people who want to know what’s on your phone are now using individually targeted methods to try to get in it. No matter how you define the good guys versus the bad guys, knowing that smart people are tasked with finding ways to have access to your phone is a very different scenario than a group of crooks fishing for Visa card numbers on Yahoo! mail servers.

This is a device security issue. Do your part and demand the people who made your phone do the same.

Someone who needs to get around the protection an app like Signal offers needs to find a way to tell the app they’re allowed to do so. They need to break into your phone and look, just as if they were looking over your shoulder while you were reading it. That means people like the ones who were able to tap into an encrypted iPhone without assistance from Apple are now working on ways to crack into every phone. Including yours. While you might be OK with knowing law enforcement can get in a criminal’s phone, know that these methods will become widespread. Two or more people can’t keep a secret, and these CIA leaked files show.

What should we do?

That’s the thing, isn’t it? I doubt anyone reading this is a target of interest for any three-letter government agency. But you still have a right to privacy.

Thankfully, the advice we’ve already heard is still the best way to do it. Common sense things like not opening attachments from people you don’t know, never installing a file from someone who shouldn’t be distributing it and not clicking random links through URL shorteners unless you know who is giving them to you. Do these things, but turn things up a notch and actually do them. If you need to step things up a notch, use secure messaging services for SMS and email.

Use these apps for true private messaging

There’s one more thing we all need to do: Only buy phones made by companies that care about security. If your phone isn’t getting regular patches to mitigate these exploits, don’t buy that brand next time. Phone manufacturers only care about profits, so to make them pay attention you have to put a dent in those profits.

There was no magic hacker tool pulled from the Vault 7 files and you don’t need to be paranoid. But there is a place between not caring and wearing a tinfoil hat, and that’s where we should be.

Stay safe.

This company can track motion with sound instead of light

When it comes to tracking physical objects in virtual spaces, pretty much every company is relying on light in some form. Oculus and HTC have their light mapping sensors, while Sony’s PlayStation VR relies on infrared for its motion tracking camera. Hauoli, a young Austin-based startup demoing at SXSW, has something different in mind. It’s developed a way to track virtual objects with sound. It’s entirely software based and works with just about any speaker, so it also removes the need for expensive motion tracking hardware.

But while making VR seamless is its ultimate goal, Hauoli’s technology can also be used anywhere you need motion tracking. In the video demonstration above, you can see how a standard Galaxy S7 can accurately track the distance from a speaker. It can also be used to draw, but at the moment that process is encumbered with significant delays (the company blames Bluetooth for the latency). And yes, like every good motion tracking innovation, you can play Fruit Ninja with it. The company also showed off how the technology can be used to make drones follow you.

And if you were wondering, yes Hauoli’s accostic motion tracking also works in noisy environments. I couldn’t hear much sound being emitted from the speaker in our demo, but our microphones picked up a low hum and clicking noise. The company also promises that it’s energy efficient (it doesn’t really take much to spit out sound), and it can deliver up to millimeter-level accuracy.

It’s all all very much in the early stages, but Hauoli says it currently has a patent pending for its audio technology. Lili Qiu, the company’s CTO, spun off the technology from her work at the University of Texas. While it’ll likely be a few years before we see Hauoli’s technology in any consumer products, it’s a promising glimpse of how things can evolve in the world of VR and motion tracking in general.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from SXSW 2017.

‘Toki’ uses 3D printing and projection to represent time

Akinori Goto is a stop-motion animator who has translated his art to work with modern materials and techniques. Goto creates smooth movement by passing simple light through highly complex wire mesh sculptures. He’s one of several artists picked to exhibit their work at SXSW this year, and his installation, Toki, is one of the most impressive on display.

Toki consists of three sculptures of varying complexity, each created with the same technique. Goto first crafts 3D animations of a ballet dancer, before taking each frame and translating it into a wire mesh sculpture. In the darkened room the pieces are installed in, beams of light are projected onto the mesh. Each cross-section of the sculpture represents a single frame of the animation, and so as the light passes through it, a visage of a ballerina dancing appears.

Goto has been working on this technique for some time now — he says it’s patent pending — but his most recent work ramps up the complexity by several degrees. While the first two sculptures (which had been exhibited prior to SXSW) are each continuous forms, his new work contains 24 unique sculptures. Each sculpture represents an hour of the day, and Goto says he is trying to express the relationship between time and movement, and “capture the beauty and nature of time itself.”

Click here to catch up on the latest news from SXSW 2017.

AirBar adds a few more touchscreen tricks to the MacBook Air

We saw a prototype of the AirBar,an odd but useful device that sits below your MacBook Air’s screen and turn it into a touchscreen, back at CES. But here at SXSW 2017, the company is back with a new model that’s almost ready for production. The big difference between the product we saw at CES and this latest one is that it supports some of the most important things you need to make a touchscreen work: multitouch.

You can now pinch to zoom on the MacBook Air screen to zoom in and out — the Maps app provides a particularly good demo of this feature. You can also place two fingers on the screen to rotate things (again something that works well in maps). Another much-needed addition is the ability to flick your finger up and down the screen to scroll in websites and documents. Before, running your finger up or down the screen would just highlight text. That wasn’t by design, but getting proper scrolling goes a long way to making the touchscreen experience feel a lot more natural.

If you tap and hold icons in the MacOS Launchpad, you can rearrange and add things to folders, just like on your iPhone. And the product still lets you use your finger to draw things in painting apps, although you’re not going to get a high degree of precision. Using a stylus might be better, but we weren’t able to try that in this demo.

This device isn’t being marketed as something you’ll want to use for extreme precision, though, so that’s OK. Part of that is the limitations of essentially hacking a touchscreen into MacOS — there’s only so much fine tuning that can be done here, so selecting tiny screen targets isn’t possible, for example. But if you want some basic touchscreen controls or are just interested in trying an interesting piece of hardware that lets you control your Mac in a new way, the Airbar might be worth its $99 asking price. We’ll have to wait until it launches to judge for sure, but it’ll be out on Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart (as well as a few other retailers) by the middle of April.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from SXSW 2017.

The smart jacket from Google and Levi’s arrives this fall for $350

It’s been nearly two years since Google and Levi’s announced their plans to work on connected garments, an idea born out of the tech giant’s Advanced Technology and Products group. The first piece of this project is a connected jacket called the Commuter, which uses Google’s Jacquard technology to turn its denim fabric into a gesture-controlled canvas. Although we knew it’d be launching as a consumer product eventually, up until today no pricing or availability details were known. But at SXSW, during a panel titled Beyond the Screens: the Ubiquity of Connectivity, Levi’s and Google revealed that the smart trucker jacket will be arriving this fall for $350.

As a refresher, the Commuter comes with a Bluetooth cuff that pairs with a smartphone to let you get directions, adjust the volume on your music or answer a phone call — all triggered by finger swipes on the jacket’s fabric. We’re told the Commuter is on the ground at SXSW, so we should have a demo of it for you in the coming days.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from SXSW 2017.

Chowbotics wants a robot named Sally to make your salad

Why it matters to you

Recent announcements show robots playing an ever-larger part in the food industry. Is the world of The Jetsons finally coming?

First they came for our burgers; now they’re coming for our salads.

We’re talking about robots, of course — those highly-trained, super-mechanized creatures that have not only been programmed to help us flip patties, but to create healthier meals as well. At the forefront of this robotic food revolution is a company called Chowbotics Inc, which just raised $5 million in a Series A round of venture funding to help develop “food service robots.”

Promising food (and food preparation) that is hygienic, customizable, and consistent while being accessible at all times, Chowbotics certainly seems to believe that it’s got the food industry figured out. Robots from the company will be able to create meals in restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, airports, hospitals, and just about anywhere else humans might need to eat.

More: Cooking burgers won’t be a human job much longer if Flippy has its way

Sally is Chowbotics’ flagship product. The salad-creating robot makes use of no fewer than 20 food canisters to give customers more than 1,000 different kinds of salads. So don’t ever say greenery is boring — Sally won’t hear of it.

A number of businesses have already agreed to put Sally’s salad-making chops to the test. Pilot programs are being held in California and Texas, with the robot making food in an Italian restaurant, a co-working space, and a grocery store.

There are a number of different ways Sally might be used: the robot can either be stationed in a kitchen, whereupon servers can take the finished product to patrons, or Sally can become a salad-vending machine, featuring a touchscreen and credit card machine for ordering and payment.

And because Sally is so very precise with her ingredients, customers will know exactly what goes into their salad, and exactly how many calories they’re consuming. So here’s to the future — one that features salad-making bots.

Why buy a new Mac, when you can buy refurbished?

Do you find yourself looking wistfully at the screen and counting the zeros on the latest Apple price tag? It’s no surprise that students, professionals, and entertainment gurus around the world struggle to afford the new, super-resolution iMacs and MacBooks. But there is a savior, and it comes in the form of refurbished products. Here’s what you need to know when buying a refurbished — either through Apple or another retailer.

More: What’s the best MacBook for your money? Hint — you can forget the Touch Bar

What does refurbished actually mean?

Refurbished is not the same as resold. Resold just means that someone is selling the same item again, often used, with all the problems that entails. Refurbished means that the Apple product in question was sent back to (ideally) a professional because of a minor issue, or because it was no longer wanted. Any malfunctioning parts are replaced, the product is given a once-over to make sure that everything is shiny and working right, and then it is repackaged to be sold again.

More: Which gadgets to buy refurbished, how to buy them, and where

Because refurbished Apple products cannot be sold at MSRP, they are typically sold at a discount, which means you save money while buying a product that is often just as good as new.

What you can get

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Apple manages its own refurbishment store, complete with its own Certified Refurbished certification, which means trained professionals ensure every device functions properly before putting it up for sale. The store offers the highest quality, so you’re essentially getting a machine that barely differs from a new model. Many people think of it as an instant discount option when shopping for a new Apple device — as long as inventory is in stock.

A couple other caveats also apply, however. First, it’s unusual to find recently-launched Apple products that have been refurbished, given they likely haven’t come back yet! Typically products have to be out for at least a few months before any refurbished Mac deals hit the market, and these will be quickly snapped up. The greatest range of products will probably be between one and two years old. It’s difficult to find refurbished Apple electronics beyond a few years old.

Your fingerprint is the key to unlocking this notebook called the Lockbook

Why it matters to you

Think biometric sensors are just for your phone? Think again — the Lockbook puts one on your notebook.

If your childhood diary had been this secure, your parents would’ve never been able to get into it. Meet the Lockbook, heralded as the world’s first fingerprint-protected notebook. That’s right — biometric technology isn’t just on your phone anymore. It’s on paper, too.

With a month left in its Indiegogo campaign, the Lockbook has already blown past its original funding goal, having raised over $42,000 from 171 backers who clearly have some secrets they need to protect. The primary feature of the notebook, of course, is its biometric fingerprint sensor, which ensures that only you (and those you allow) can access the contents of the book. But beyond that, the Lockbook is a pretty solid accessory for creatives, doodlers, and anyone else who just needs a place to jot down ideas from time to time.

The notebook claims to use “high quality ink-friendly paper” that is “ideal for smooth writing.” And thanks to multiple pockets, you can store documents, pictures, credit cards, and other items, all while knowing that they’re safe from prying eyes and hands.

More: System76 giving its users what they want: An all-aluminum Ubuntu Linux notebook

So how do you actually open the Lockbook if you are an authorized user? Claiming a “higher sensitivity” fingerprint sensor than those used in some other products, you need only to press down lightly at the edge of the notebook, and if the print has been stored, the notebook will snap open. Apparently, you can open and close the Lockook in less than a second when pressed for time.

And because this particular notebook comes with a binder organizer, ring binder, dividers, and perforated pages for tear-out memos, you’ll be able to organize your life like never before. Don’t worry about running out of paper, either — this notebook is meant to used time and time again, as the modular organizer allows you to refill it with new looseleaf paper once you’ve run out.

You can preorder a Lockbook from Indiegogo now for the early bird price of $39. You’ll receive it in June of this year, which makes it perfect for going back to school.

Date with Uncle Sam? Here are 7 of the best sites for e-filing your taxes

We’re only days away from the tax filing deadline — aka Tuesday, April 18. And while it’s typical to put off filing your taxes for as long as humanly possible, filing them on time is still something you should do if you don’t want to risk paying late penalties or exuberant interest costs on top of what you might owe. You can even potentially lose your refund after three years if you refuse to file in a timely fashion.

More: Need help with your taxes this year? Watson is here for you at H&R Block

However, you don’t have to opt for a personal accountant who will charge you an arm and leg for your time if you have a straightforward return. Filing online is quicker, more accurate, and yields a return directly to your bank account within 21 days opposed to the typical six weeks associated with paper filing. Plus, if it’s down to the wire, e-filing your taxes is far more convenient.

You may need to be a bit more wary of scam artists trying to obtain your info or riddle your computer with spyware when filing electronically, but there’s no denying the appeal of convenience. Below are our favorite methods for e-filing your taxes, so you nab your return without ever leaving the comforts of your bed.

Writer’s note: The deadline to file taxes is Tuesday, April 18. Also, we recommend sticking with the same premium vendor you used last year to file your taxes. Doing so will allow you to import last year’s tax information with a few clicks.

IRS2GO

Not everyone likes the Internal Revenue Service, but that doesn’t mean you should shy away from government entity come tax time. The IRS’s website is one of the best places to go for tax laws, tips, forms, calculators, and any questions you may have about your finances or legal obligations prior to your filing. The government site also features contact information for local tax offices and will recommend various tax software based on your current finances. Moreover, the institution guides you to your specific free filing software depending on whether you made more or less than $64,000 last year. It’s fairly cut and dry, but in case you’re still concerned, the site pairs you with the appropriate method for filing after a brief questionnaire. We only wish all aspects of government worked so flawlessly.

Federal (free) | State (varies)

Web  iOS Android

TurboTax

TurboTax stands its ground as the premiere site for filing your taxes online. It’s a great option for both personal and small businesses, and you can even file your federal taxes for free using its IRS e-file system (state will cost you). The free edition contains many major forms, from the W-2 to the 1040EZ, with ample guidance and direction if you feel completely overwhelmed. The more advanced packages come bundled with step-by-step instructions and handle more intricate deductions such as home mortgages and various business expenditures, but can cost you more than $100 depending on what you plan to do with them. Regardless of which package you opt for, though, TurboTax features one of the sleekest interfaces around and robust support for importing W-2 and 1099 forms. Tax experts also provide expert advice when need be, as does the active user community

Federal (free) | State (varies)

Web  iOS  Android

H&R Block

H&R Block is another solid alternative for e-filing your taxes online, but it doesn’t offer as in-depth help as some of it online competitors. Like TurboTax, the free edition also offers a vast array of forms and schedules. The software becomes more comprehensive and effective the higher up you go in price, bringing in step-by-step instructions and expanding the schedule lineup, but the site can prove cumbersome at times due to poor navigation tools. Each tier still supports data import and deduction guidance, though, along with an extensive refund program that allows you to put a portion or all of your refund on an Emerald Card. With this option, your refund will be available within 21 days.

Federal (free) | State (starts at $30)

Web iOS  Android

TaxACT

TaxACT’s best selling point is its rock-bottom pricing, which sadly, comes at the expense of advanced features and cleanliness. It’s a bit more barebones than some of the more popular competitors, but both the free and paid editions offer almost the same set of features, including your standard forms and schedules (i.e. 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ). Opting for the premium versions will grant you access to more features — such as tax data from prior years, donation assistance, and robust phone support — but the free federal edition is still worthwhile if you’re exempt from paying state taxes. The service’s lackluster interface and navigation leave much to be desired, too, yet it still touts an extensive library of video and text assistance that spans an array of common tax issues regarding penalties and law. TaxACT also allows you to file your tax return out of sequence, which is rather nice if you want to skip a particular section and come back to it later.

Federal (free) | State (varies)

Web  iOS  Android

TaxSlayer

TaxSlayer is another affordable option, but it’s pretty limited in its capabilities and scope. The service isn’t very conversational, particularly given the user interface is sorely outdated and lacks any sort of comprehensive context, but it remains one of the more inexpensive packages and boasts support for an excellent range of IRS forms (i.e. W-2, 1040, Schedule EIC). The service also provides email and phone support regardless of which package you choose, though, you won’t be able to pull last year’s data or talk with a tax professional unless you opt for one of the higher-tiered offerings. The built-in guidance will be enough for users filing a simple return, even if the help menu does often provide non-pertinent information and link out to a host of other sites, providing new or returning users a basic means for filing their taxes without consulting elsewhere. Still, the service is in dire need of a more inclusive walkthrough for some of the more complex operations — one more appropriate for businesses and small entrepreneurs.

Federal (free) | State (varies)

Web  iOS  Android

eSmart Tax

eSmart Tax is Liberty Tax’s online tax software. Depending on your tax scenario, there are different solution tiers available, ranging from free simple returns and going up to $35 packages for business owners. As with the other entries on this list, eSmart Tax allows users to file their federal taxes for free. However, also like the above software choices, you’ll have to fork over some cash in order to file your state taxes. Thankfully, eSmart Tax  includes free technical support and live audit support through live chat with a Liberty Tax CPA, mitigating some of the tax season headache. The software also includes a remarkably convenient and easy import tool, that allows users to import the previous year’s tax information from other Tax services like H&R Block, TaxAct, and TurboTax. So, if you found yourself unhappy with your previous tax software, or are maybe just looking to mix it up and try something new, eSmart Tax makes it easy to continue where you left off last year.

Federal (free) | State ($30)

Web

Credit Karma Tax

Last year, Credit Karma announced that it had purchased the AFJC Corporation, expanding Credit Karma’s outreach from credit score analysis to tax filing. The first version of Credit Karma Tax features a clean, navigable interface with a horizontal toolbar at the top of the screen. This divides the process into three distinct sections — Basic Info, Federal Taxes, and State Taxes. Like the other services on this list, Credit Karma Tax also handles an an array of standard forms and schedules (i.e.,W-2, 1040, 1099-MISC).

One of the main drawbacks to the service is that does not allow you to upload your tax data from a rival service. Also, while the tried-and-true tax services have years of experience fielding digital “help desk” questions, this is Credit Karma’s first time around the block. It is easy to become lost or confused when trudging through the semantic tempest that is the U.S. tax system, and many of the other tax services do a better job of conveniently hyperlinking or defining the more complex jargon, thus minimizing error potential and you’re need to scour the web for additional info.

Yes, there are a few kinks in the first version of Credit Karma Tax, however, unlike many of the other services on this list, Credit Karma Tax includes free state filing. For years Credit Karma has made money using its credit service to suggest credit cards and loans to users for a commission. This new tax apparatus gives Credit Karma more insight into an individual’s overall income to more aptly match a person with a lender, and, by extension, leads to more commissions.

Federal (free) | State (free)

Web

This article was originally published on April 11, 2016, and updated on March 7 by Dallon Adams to include Credit Karma Tax.

Date with Uncle Sam? Here are 7 of the best sites for e-filing your taxes

We’re only days away from the tax filing deadline — aka Tuesday, April 18. And while it’s typical to put off filing your taxes for as long as humanly possible, filing them on time is still something you should do if you don’t want to risk paying late penalties or exuberant interest costs on top of what you might owe. You can even potentially lose your refund after three years if you refuse to file in a timely fashion.

More: Need help with your taxes this year? Watson is here for you at H&R Block

However, you don’t have to opt for a personal accountant who will charge you an arm and leg for your time if you have a straightforward return. Filing online is quicker, more accurate, and yields a return directly to your bank account within 21 days opposed to the typical six weeks associated with paper filing. Plus, if it’s down to the wire, e-filing your taxes is far more convenient.

You may need to be a bit more wary of scam artists trying to obtain your info or riddle your computer with spyware when filing electronically, but there’s no denying the appeal of convenience. Below are our favorite methods for e-filing your taxes, so you nab your return without ever leaving the comforts of your bed.

Writer’s note: The deadline to file taxes is Tuesday, April 18. Also, we recommend sticking with the same premium vendor you used last year to file your taxes. Doing so will allow you to import last year’s tax information with a few clicks.

IRS2GO

Not everyone likes the Internal Revenue Service, but that doesn’t mean you should shy away from government entity come tax time. The IRS’s website is one of the best places to go for tax laws, tips, forms, calculators, and any questions you may have about your finances or legal obligations prior to your filing. The government site also features contact information for local tax offices and will recommend various tax software based on your current finances. Moreover, the institution guides you to your specific free filing software depending on whether you made more or less than $64,000 last year. It’s fairly cut and dry, but in case you’re still concerned, the site pairs you with the appropriate method for filing after a brief questionnaire. We only wish all aspects of government worked so flawlessly.

Federal (free) | State (varies)

Web  iOS Android

TurboTax

TurboTax stands its ground as the premiere site for filing your taxes online. It’s a great option for both personal and small businesses, and you can even file your federal taxes for free using its IRS e-file system (state will cost you). The free edition contains many major forms, from the W-2 to the 1040EZ, with ample guidance and direction if you feel completely overwhelmed. The more advanced packages come bundled with step-by-step instructions and handle more intricate deductions such as home mortgages and various business expenditures, but can cost you more than $100 depending on what you plan to do with them. Regardless of which package you opt for, though, TurboTax features one of the sleekest interfaces around and robust support for importing W-2 and 1099 forms. Tax experts also provide expert advice when need be, as does the active user community

Federal (free) | State (varies)

Web  iOS  Android

H&R Block

H&R Block is another solid alternative for e-filing your taxes online, but it doesn’t offer as in-depth help as some of it online competitors. Like TurboTax, the free edition also offers a vast array of forms and schedules. The software becomes more comprehensive and effective the higher up you go in price, bringing in step-by-step instructions and expanding the schedule lineup, but the site can prove cumbersome at times due to poor navigation tools. Each tier still supports data import and deduction guidance, though, along with an extensive refund program that allows you to put a portion or all of your refund on an Emerald Card. With this option, your refund will be available within 21 days.

Federal (free) | State (starts at $30)

Web iOS  Android

TaxACT

TaxACT’s best selling point is its rock-bottom pricing, which sadly, comes at the expense of advanced features and cleanliness. It’s a bit more barebones than some of the more popular competitors, but both the free and paid editions offer almost the same set of features, including your standard forms and schedules (i.e. 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ). Opting for the premium versions will grant you access to more features — such as tax data from prior years, donation assistance, and robust phone support — but the free federal edition is still worthwhile if you’re exempt from paying state taxes. The service’s lackluster interface and navigation leave much to be desired, too, yet it still touts an extensive library of video and text assistance that spans an array of common tax issues regarding penalties and law. TaxACT also allows you to file your tax return out of sequence, which is rather nice if you want to skip a particular section and come back to it later.

Federal (free) | State (varies)

Web  iOS  Android

TaxSlayer

TaxSlayer is another affordable option, but it’s pretty limited in its capabilities and scope. The service isn’t very conversational, particularly given the user interface is sorely outdated and lacks any sort of comprehensive context, but it remains one of the more inexpensive packages and boasts support for an excellent range of IRS forms (i.e. W-2, 1040, Schedule EIC). The service also provides email and phone support regardless of which package you choose, though, you won’t be able to pull last year’s data or talk with a tax professional unless you opt for one of the higher-tiered offerings. The built-in guidance will be enough for users filing a simple return, even if the help menu does often provide non-pertinent information and link out to a host of other sites, providing new or returning users a basic means for filing their taxes without consulting elsewhere. Still, the service is in dire need of a more inclusive walkthrough for some of the more complex operations — one more appropriate for businesses and small entrepreneurs.

Federal (free) | State (varies)

Web  iOS  Android

eSmart Tax

eSmart Tax is Liberty Tax’s online tax software. Depending on your tax scenario, there are different solution tiers available, ranging from free simple returns and going up to $35 packages for business owners. As with the other entries on this list, eSmart Tax allows users to file their federal taxes for free. However, also like the above software choices, you’ll have to fork over some cash in order to file your state taxes. Thankfully, eSmart Tax  includes free technical support and live audit support through live chat with a Liberty Tax CPA, mitigating some of the tax season headache. The software also includes a remarkably convenient and easy import tool, that allows users to import the previous year’s tax information from other Tax services like H&R Block, TaxAct, and TurboTax. So, if you found yourself unhappy with your previous tax software, or are maybe just looking to mix it up and try something new, eSmart Tax makes it easy to continue where you left off last year.

Federal (free) | State ($30)

Web

Credit Karma Tax

Last year, Credit Karma announced that it had purchased the AFJC Corporation, expanding Credit Karma’s outreach from credit score analysis to tax filing. The first version of Credit Karma Tax features a clean, navigable interface with a horizontal toolbar at the top of the screen. This divides the process into three distinct sections — Basic Info, Federal Taxes, and State Taxes. Like the other services on this list, Credit Karma Tax also handles an an array of standard forms and schedules (i.e.,W-2, 1040, 1099-MISC).

One of the main drawbacks to the service is that does not allow you to upload your tax data from a rival service. Also, while the tried-and-true tax services have years of experience fielding digital “help desk” questions, this is Credit Karma’s first time around the block. It is easy to become lost or confused when trudging through the semantic tempest that is the U.S. tax system, and many of the other tax services do a better job of conveniently hyperlinking or defining the more complex jargon, thus minimizing error potential and you’re need to scour the web for additional info.

Yes, there are a few kinks in the first version of Credit Karma Tax, however, unlike many of the other services on this list, Credit Karma Tax includes free state filing. For years Credit Karma has made money using its credit service to suggest credit cards and loans to users for a commission. This new tax apparatus gives Credit Karma more insight into an individual’s overall income to more aptly match a person with a lender, and, by extension, leads to more commissions.

Federal (free) | State (free)

Web

This article was originally published on April 11, 2016, and updated on March 7 by Dallon Adams to include Credit Karma Tax.