help

Google rolls out initiative to help hacked sites

It's not pretty when a Web site gets a "this site may be compromised" or "this site may harm your computer" status note. Many webmasters and Web site owners can be at a loss of what to do in these situations.

For this reason, Google has launched "Help for Hacked Sites" informational series, which has a dozen articles and videos aimed to help people avoid having their sites hacked and also teach them how to gain back control of compromised sites.

"Every day, cybercriminals compromise thousands of websites. Hacks are often invisible … Read more

How to make the OS X Help Viewer less obtrusive

Apple's built-in Help services in OS X are convenient ways to get basic information on how to use the operating system's various programs and services. To access these services you simply need to go to the Help menu, where you can search for Help topics in the menu or access the Help Center.

The menu's search function will provide a list of Help topics and available menu commands for the foremost application, but if you open a topic or choose the Help Center then a floating window will appear displaying said Help Center. If you keep the … Read more

iPhone apps that can help in an emergency

Emergencies come in all shapes and sizes. It might be a tornado that's bearing down on your location, a finger that gets burned on a hot stove, or even just a fender bender in a parking lot.

To paraphrase the Boy Scout motto: be prepared -- with apps!

The iTunes App Store is home to countless apps that can help you in an emergency. I've rounded up six to get you started.… Read more

Clean up your Registry with Registry Help Free

There are numerous Registry cleaners out there, and many of them are problematic; some of them don't create backups before fixing errors, some claim to clean your Registry without giving you any information about what they're doing, and some will locate hundreds of errors but only fix one or two at a time until you upgrade to a paid version of the software. We're happy to report that Registry Help Free has none of those problems. This free program is packed with features, and while it will likely befuddle novices, more-advanced users will find plenty to like.… Read more

How to copy error message text in Windows

We've all been there: helping a relative with a computer problem they can't figure out, and suddenly they run into an error.

Now comes the fun part! You can attempt to have them explain the error box. Sometimes it feels as though you should type a random string of characters into Google and hope it's the right error code--the success rate will probably be similar.

Enter GetWindowText. This handy tool lets anyone select text from any Windows dialog prompt and place it into an area where it can then be copied to the clipboard for using elsewhere. … Read more

Shopping for a gamer? CNET's Holiday Help Desk has your back

Gamers are possibly the most fun people to shop for. They always want something, and if you guess right, you're a hero for the rest of the year.

There's just so much that brings them insane amounts of joy: a new controller (woot!), the latest game (Batman: Arkham City, anyone?), a geeky gaming headset (hey, it's important), and the mother load of all gamer gifts, a brand-new console.

If you're still unsure which of these pretty sweet options to get for the adorable gaming addict in your life, let CNET's Holiday Help Desk help. … Read more

Pick the right smartphone for the holidays--we'll help!

Smartphones--can you give them as a gift? And if so, which one should you give as a gift? Go with the Droid Razr or wait for the Galaxy Nexus? Or learn to love Siri and all her quirks? We're here to help--live.

CNET smartphones expert Jessica Dolcourt joins the CNET Holiday Help Desk Monday Dec. 12 at at noon Pacific, 3 p.m. Eastern at CNET Live.

Monday's show is our fourth help desk of the season, here to answer your holiday tech-shopping questions. Not only will Jessica help you pick a smartphone, we'll also have Claudia … Read more

Tune in: CNET Holiday Help Desk talks laptops, Amazon sales

Need laptop advice? Want to find out the inside scoop on Amazon's deals leading into the holidays? We're here to help--live.

Tune in to the CNET Holiday Help Desk today and every Monday until Dec. 19 at noon Pacific, 3 p.m. Eastern at CNET Live.

Today's show is the third of five weekly call-in shows designed to help answer your holiday tech shopping questions. This week, Dan Ackerman helps make sense of the sea of laptop deals that have been enticing buyers since Black Friday. After all, you don't want to pick the wrong one, … Read more

Holiday Help Desk on CNET Live, part deux

CNET's Holiday Help Desk on CNET Live is back for seconds!

Hosts Molly Wood and Brian Tong will take live viewer calls, talk to the chat room, and answer e-mails. And dish out the best tech gift buying advice on the planet. This week's special guests include CNET 's TV Guru Senior Editor David Katzmaier, resident cheapskate Rick Broida keeps bringing us sweet deals, and Woot.com's VP of Retail Sales Darold Rydl joins us to talk about where to find some great deals and how Woot helped to start the craze.

We'll keep you posted … Read more

Holiday Help Desk on CNET Live

It's that time of year again, time for CNET's Holiday Help Desk.

Hosts Molly Wood and Brian Tong will take live viewer calls, talk to the chat room, and answer e-mails. And dish out the best tech gift-buying advice on the planet. Special guests will include CNET resident cheapskate Rick Broida, a parade of CNET editors, and guests from the retail world pitching their deals directly to you, such as representatives from Amazon, Woot, eBay, and Best Buy.

We'll keep you posted with the best deals, and also help you find the perfect gadget that's right … Read more