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How to check if a Web site is safe

Have you been phished? Whether you use a Mac, Windows, or Linux, iOS or Android, there's a real strong chance that somebody has sent you an e-mail or text message in an attempt to get at your personal information. Data means money, and you're a big ol' dollar sign to the bad guys.

The best recommendation I can offer is to browse smart. That means you ought to always double-check the URL of your banking site, social networking site, and e-mail site before you log in. Most browsers, including Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer, now include a color-change … Read more

Canon Pixma MG5320 review: Capable performance with photocentric features

The Canon Pixma MG5320 is a worthwhile photo printer for families and work groups, and you get plenty of new features like HD Movie Print, fun photo filters, and Pixma Cloud Link that can provide new ways to bring your digital photos to life.

It's also a thinner shape that we're used to seeing from Canon, and foldable paper output trays reduce the overall footprint, so it's convenient for offices that don't have a lot of work space. The top of the printer has a 3-inch LCD display with a scroll dial for surfing the different application menus, and you also get 150-sheet paper input trays on the front and back of the unit--this is specifically convenient for amateur photographers because you can store standard 8.5x11-inch sheets in the bottom drawer and save the top one for photo paper. … Read more

Get Nuance PaperPort 14 for $49.99

I'm a longtime fan of PaperPort, which began life as a scanner/software combination and now exists solely as software. I've never found a better solution for organizing and preserving scanned documents, which is why PaperPort is among the few software products I'm actually willing to buy.

But $99.99? Ouch. That's the list price for the latest version. Fortunately, software developer Nuance has partnered with Laplink to offer PaperPort 14 (Windows) for $49.99. (Just to clarify, this is PaperPort Standard, not PaperPort Pro.)

That's for the download version, though you can get a … Read more

Canon adds photobooth effects for two new Pixma multifunction printers

Fish-eye lenses and toy cameras make us all nostalgic for sun-bleached summer days, but they don't always take the best-resolution photos. Today, Canon adds two new Pixma photo printers to its multifunction lineup that let you add fun filters to any digital photo using Easy-PhotoPrint EX software.

PIXMA MG8220 and MG6220 All-in-Ones (AiO) are both optimized for the amateur photographer with features like built-in Wi-Fi for cordless setup, six individual ink tanks for vivid images and cartridge conservation, and Canon's convenient Intelligent Touch control panel that only illuminates the commands necessary for each function.

We got a first glimpse at this feature on the Canon Pixma MG6120 and found it intuitive and easy to use.

Both printers also make use of Canon's HD Movie Print that lets you pull still-frame snapshots out of videos recorded with compatible Canon HD video cameras, like the Canon PowerShot Elph 510 HS, just released today.

Finally, Canon's latest print technology, called Cloud Link, helps you pull images and documents to print straight from Picasa or Canon's online Image Gateway repository without ever going back to your computer. You can also download and print templates like calendars, to-do lists, stationary, and more--both printers offer Cloud Link printing out of the box, but you have to have a wireless network setup to access the content.

So what's the difference between the two? The MG6220 will debut at $200 when it goes on sale later this year, but the $100 increase for the MG8220 nets you an additional Film Adapter Unit for converting older and negatives to digital format of your choice, as well as a larger 3.5-inch LCD screen, and auto-duplexing for double-sided printing.

Click through the break for more pictures of both printers.… Read more

How to clean your scanner glass

Have you ever scanned a photo, only to see specks of dust in high resolution? We hope your knee-jerk reaction wasn't to grab a paper towel and glass cleaner and spray the scanner, because that probably made it worse. We'll show you how to safely and effectively clean the glass on your scanner:

Step 1: Unplug the power cord from the scanner.

Step 2: Using a soft, lint-free cloth, like a microfiber cloth, wipe off the dust from the scanner glass.

Step 3: If the glass has smudges or other contaminants, use a little bit of glass cleaner … Read more

The 404 876: Where 92 percent of our hosts are fake (podcast)

Which would you rather give up for a week, your toothbrush or your iPhone? We welcome CNETer Kenley Bradstreet back on the show today to help us answer this hypothetical question and more.

Of course, Joey Kaminski is here, too, and we have a minefield of a story rundown to test his self-control, such as a nail polish inspired by bruises and bodily fluids, a world-record-breaking attempt going down tomorrow on the corner of Seaman and Dyckman Streets, and a report that 92-percent of Newt Gengrich's 1.3 million Twitter followers are actually robots.

The 404 Digest for Episode 876

Nail polish names inspired by bruises and blood. Report: 92 percent of Newt Gingrich's Twitter Followers Aren't Real. iPhone users would trade shoes, sex for phone. N.Y. lingerie shop to break world record for simultaneous breastfeeding. No lasers were harmed in the scanning of these cats.

Episode 876 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

No lasers were harmed in the scanning of these cats

The Cat Scan requires no explanation--the blurry scans of smooshed feline paws speak for themselves, but the Webmasters need fan contributions to continue updating the site--that may be the only thing The Cat Scan has in common with Wikipedia.

They also advise you to cat-scan at your own risk as any damage caused by little Chairman Meow will likely void your warranty, but feel free to submit scans anyway!

More of our favorite cat scans after the break.

New airport scanners alarmed by sweaty armpits

Every time there dawns a new era of airport safety, we the citizens and passengers of the world bow in wonder at the latest new technology that will save us from our fellow man.

So it was at Australia's Sydney Airport yesterday, where the well-meaning authorities launched a shiny new full-body scanner that would not only ensure that you are not armed, but could also tell what you had for lunch last Tuesday. (That's merely a slight exaggeration, of course.)

News.com.au sniffed out a certain snafu, however, in the scanner's nervous system. For it seemed … Read more

Simplify your grocery shopping on Android

Grocery shopping--it can be fun, annoying, relaxing, or done in a rush, but it is always necessary. So why not use a grocery app for your phone that can help make the process go smoother every time? While the number of grocery apps in the Android Market is mind-boggling, the amount of features per app varies greatly. Out of Milk is relatively balanced on features, ease of use, and quality in comparison to many others. Here's how to use it to simplify the necessary task of grocery shopping:

Step 1: Grab Out of Milk from the … Read more