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Mobile IRS Free File software available

The Internal Revenue Service announced that taxpayers now may use their smartphones or tablets to electronically prepare and file their federal and state tax returns through IRS Free File. The IRS and its private-sector partners who offer their brand-name software products for free now support a new design that allows for the use of desktops, laptops, mobile phones and tablets.

Access the products using mobile devices in two ways: (1) Use the IRS app, IRS2Go, which has a link to the Free File Software Lookup Tool or (2) Use the devices browser to go to http://www.IRS.gov/freefile and select the Free File Software Lookup Tool or Start Free File Now to find a software product. The IRS2Go app is available for Android and iOS devices.

Taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $64,000 or less will find one or more free software options. The Free File software allows for free electronic tax preparation and filing and direct deposit of refunds. Some taxpayers may need their 2015 adjusted gross income, if they filed a return, to validate their identities and complete the electronic filing process.

Klos Guitars launches second Kickstarter

Klos Guitars, a Provo business specializing in carbon fiber travel guitars, successfully launched its newest product last week on Kickstarter. Within just five hours of launching their Klos Carbon Fiber Acoustic Electric guitar Friday, the campaign already hit $25,000, more than its original $10,000 goal. By Tuesday, it surpassed $117,000.

Its pretty surreal, said Adam Klosowiak, co-founder with his brother Ian, of Klos Guitars.

The brothers successfully launched their original acoustic carbon fiber guitar last year, but knew they wanted an electric option.

Adam said this second guitar has all of the benefits of the acoustic model, and then some. This version has a pickup. With the pickup, he explained, players can plug the guitar into an amp for concert performing or recording.

So plugged in it has the full versatility of a full-size guitar, but, when unplugged, the guitar is still great for traveling and playing acoustically, he said.

The Klos Acoustic Electric guitar campaign still has 25 days more to go, and the potential to raise close to $200,000.

DigiCert launches certificates for IoT

DigiCert, a Lehi company specializing in scalable authentication and encryption solutions, unveiled DigiCert Auto-Provisioning, powered by Device Authority, the first weekend of February at the DigiCert Security Summit.

Device authentication and encryption are critical to securing connected devices and the information they share, but many software implementations lack standard protocols for provisioning devices, said DigiCert CTO Dan Timpson. DigiCert Auto-Provisioning, powered by Device Authority, helps companies get certificates on a much wider range of IoT devices in a scalable, secure and automated way.

As the number of connected devices rises toward an estimated 50 billion by 2020, security continues to lag behind. IoT devices often lack the computer power required for strong encryption and do not have the ability to securely generate and store keys required for strong device security. Similarly, when credentials need to be revoked or rotated because of device authorization changes, the process is typically manual, time-consuming and vulnerable to human error.

DigiCert Auto-Provisioning combines certificate issuance with automated provisioning to simplify large-volume device enrollment and credentialing. It also provides secure key generation and storage to prevent the use of stolen credentials and unauthorized devices.

Karissa Neely reports on Business & North County events, and can be reached at (801) 344-2537 orkneely@heraldextra.com. Follow her on Twitter: @DHKarissaNeely

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KLOS Guitars second Kickstarter successful; DigiCert launches new product; IRS Free File goes mobile - Daily Herald