Green living: Save energy on video games and home electronics In today's economy, consumers are looking to keep costs down and save on bills. Saving money can also save energy. Game consoles and home electronics consume a staggeringly high amount of energy, but there is something that can be done about it.

Top 7 reasons to consider a netbook this holiday season The holiday shopping season is just around the corner and technology gadgets are always popular items for holiday giving. Netbooks have been getting a lot of press lately and are sure to be high up on many people's wish lists.

Don't get scammed through social networking sites Scam artists are always changing their schemes in an effort to trick consumers into handing over money or personal information. One of the latest scams involves hacking into social networking sites and then targeting specific friends in the victim's account.

Hi-tech holidays: technology gifts dominate this year's shopping lists The holiday season is officially underway and consumers will be hitting the stores to shop for their loved ones. Hot on holiday wish lists this year - technology.

Survey: Parents say online safety is top concern, but not taking action Parents worry about protecting their children from online predators. But some just aren't worried enough, it seems. That's one conclusion online safety experts say can be drawn from a recent survey that showed while 50 percent of parents rank online predators, pornography and violence as the biggest online threats to children, a quarter still never monitor their children's online activities.

Flat screen shopping? Why now is a great time to buy In 2009, more than 53 percent of American households have at least one HDTV. Retailers haven't missed the fact that flat-screen televisions are among the few big-ticket items Americans are still willing to buy. They've responded by lowering prices and offering deals and incentives that make this a great time to buy.

New solutions for staying young and healthy As we grow older, we look forward to the changes that life brings -- retirement, grandchildren, financial security and travel. Other changes that we might not accept so readily are the aches, pains and mental slowdowns that leave us longing for the good old days of our youth.

The surprising hidden costs of holiday shopping - and how to beat them As we head into this holiday season, shoppers will start to plan their holiday gift lists, hit the stores and start shopping. Getting the most for your holiday shopping dollars this year will not only be about sticking to a budget, but managing valuable time to spend on shopping for the holidays.

Holiday gift-giving unwrapped The most important part of giving a gift is the thought behind it. Consider skipping the malls this holiday season and instead create some homemade holiday presents that will save you money and add meaning to the wrapped packages you hand out to family and friends.

The scary waste of 'vampire power' Vampires may be hot right now in the entertainment world, but "vampire power" - the slow, invisible energy drain caused by leaving electric devices plugged in - simply sucks.

Back-to-school tips to keep your family safe online The end of summer means means kids are spending more time online prepping for the upcoming school year, finishing summer homework lists and reconnecting with summer friends. Likewise, cybercriminals are online targeting them through e-mail, IM and phishing scams, and even trying to make contact on social networking sites, blogs and chat rooms. What's a parent to do?

Are e-cards for you this holiday season? You know the old drill. Weeks before the holidays begin you shop for the perfect card or pose for your annual family photo to grace your season's greetings. Today there is another option: For those of us with no time left to spare, the lure of e-cards is beginning to change the way we reach out to one another.

High-tech options offer boost for tires They are your vehicle's only connection to the road, yet most of the time your tires are the last thing you think about. Despite being viewed by many drivers as simply round and black, today's tires are more technologically advanced than ever before. As the technology in tires rapidly advances, so do consumers' options to choose the right tires to meet their vehicle needs.

Eleven tips to stay safe online and protect your privacy While Americans have been using the Internet for about 20 years, it can still feel like the wild, wild West. Despite many technological advances that reduce the risk of your identity being stolen, becoming the victim of an Internet scam or having your privacy invaded by others on the Internet is an all too often occurrence. And, as a number of recent incidents involving social networking Web sites have shown us, it can even be deadly.

Get your auto maintenance in gear In a tough economy, it's only natural to look for ways to cut corners. But trimming auto maintenance expenses isn't worth the risk. Taking proper care of your car steers you on the road to safe driving. It can help to keep more cash in your pocket too.

Buying a computer? Coupons aren't just for groceries, you know You've been contemplating a new computer for awhile. Laptop or desktop -- it doesn't matter; you need to replace your machine because it is slower than it takes your teenage children to complete an assigned household chore. And in the case of your computer, carefully constructed reminders don't help it work any faster.

Check it twice: Buying the perfect laptop for that special someone With the holidays fast approaching, it is time to start thinking of practical gift ideas in this tough economy. As the wireless revolution continues to dominate our personal and professional lives, a laptop or netbook is a hot gift for those close to you this holiday season.

See here - A clean, well-kept windshield is key to winter driving safety If you can't see, you can't be safe behind the wheel. Yet millions of American motorists drive on winter roads peering through windshields that probably haven't had proper care and cleaning since spring.

American energy security could come from trees You don't have to be an energy expert to realize the challenge ahead if the country is to reach President Obama's goal of reducing 50 percent of America's fossil fuel emissions by 2050. To do that will require several innovative approaches to generating fuel and electricity. One alternative is to use plant or tree materials, also known as biomass, as an energy source.

Debunking the myth of the 'leaky' skylight Why is it that homeowners who wouldn't hesitate to cut a hole in the wall where they want a new window think twice about cutting a hole in the roof for a skylight? For many, the answer is simply "fear of springing a leak." Yet the same modern technologies that ensure windows keep water out are at work in modern skylights.

Tech shopping? Beauty meets the best tech in new crop of gadgets Function alone isn't enough to sell us on a new piece of technology anymore. Americans increasingly want their technology to look good - stylish, even - in addition to working well.

Keeping America's information safe offers a secure career From shopping to working to banking, Americans are doing it all online. Consumers need their private information to be safe, but at the same time, they want the speed and convenience of instant transactions, all without giving it a second thought. Information security specialists are in the shadows, ensuring consumer and business data security worldwide.

What to do if you're a victim of cybercrime Nearly 10 million people in the United States were victims of identity fraud last year and, over the past two years alone, Americans have lost $8.5 billion to online con artists. When online criminals are so convincing, how do you avoid becoming a victim? And how do you know if you've already become a victim of a cybercrime and know where to go for help?