Chris Hoffman
Contributing since August, 2010
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2888articles
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About Chris Hoffman
Chris Hoffman is the former Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. Chris has personally written over 2,000 articles that have been read more than one billion times---and that's just here at How-To Geek.
With over a decade of writing experience in the field of technology, Chris has written for a variety of publications including The New York Times, Reader's Digest, IDG's PCWorld, Digital Trends, and MakeUseOf. Beyond the web, his work has appeared in the print edition of The New York Times (September 9, 2019) and in PCWorld's print magazines, specifically in the August 2013 and July 2013 editions, where his story was on the cover. He also wrote the USA's most-saved article of 2021, according to Pocket.
Chris was a PCWorld columnist for two years. He founded PCWorld's "World Beyond Windows" column, which covered the latest developments in open-source operating systems like Linux and Chrome OS. Beyond the column, he wrote about everything from Windows to tech travel tips.
The news he's broken has been covered by outlets like the BBC, The Verge, Slate, Gizmodo, Engadget, TechCrunch, Digital Trends, ZDNet, The Next Web, and Techmeme. Instructional tutorials he's written have been linked to by organizations like The New York Times, Wirecutter, Lifehacker, the BBC, CNET, Ars Technica, and John Gruber's Daring Fireball. His roundups of new features in Windows 10 updates have been called "the most detailed, useful Windows version previews of anyone on the web" and covered by prominent Windows journalists like Paul Thurrott and Mary Jo Foley on TWiT's Windows Weekly. His work has even appeared on the front page of Reddit.
Articles he's written have been used as a source for everything from books like Team Human by Douglas Rushkoff, media theory professor at the City University of New York's Queens College and CNN contributor, to university textbooks and even late-night TV shows like Comedy Central's @midnight with Chris Hardwick.
Starting in 2015, Chris attended the Computer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas for five years running. At CES 2018, he broke the news about Kodak's "KashMiner" Bitcoin mining scheme with a viral tweet. A wave of negative publicity ensued, with coverage on BuzzFeed News, CNBC, the BBC, and TechCrunch. The company's project was later reportedly shut down by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition to his extensive writing experience, Chris has been interviewed as a technology expert on TV news and radio shows. He gave advice on dark web scans on Miami's NBC 6, discussed Windows XP's demise on WGN-TV's Midday News in Chicago, and shared his CES experiences on WJR-AM's Guy Gordon Show in Detroit.
Chris also ran MakeUseOf's email newsletter for two years. Nearly 400,000 subscribers received the newsletter complete with a handwritten tip every day.
Latest Articles
How to See Multiple Time Zone Clocks on Windows 10's Taskbar
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How to Get Refunds for Apps and Games
Some app and game stores offer refunds for digital purchases, and some don't.
How to Set Up All Your New Holiday Gadgets
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So You Just Got a Nintendo Switch. Now What?
The Nintendo Switch is a great console---part living room system, part portable device, and all Nintendo.
How to Switch to a Local User Account on Windows 10
Windows 10 now pushes you to use a Microsoft account during the setup process. You can always change that to a local user account afterward. Here's how.
How a Password Manager Protects You From Phishing Scams
Password managers don't just help you remember strong password. They help protect you from phishing attacks when signing into websites.
Will Windows 10 Work on My Computer?
Does your computer run Windows 7? It will almost certainly run Windows 10, too. Consider upgrading before Microsoft ends support for Windows 7 (Yes, you can still upgrade for free!)
What's New in Chrome 79, Available Now
Chrome 79 is scheduled to arrive today. Here's what's new. (Spoiler: Lower CPU usage, improved security, and a shared clipboard between computers and Android devices.)
How to Use Your Calendar From Windows 10's Taskbar
With Windows 10, you can create and view calendar events right from your taskbar. You can even sync with your Google or iCloud calendars and see those events with a single click from your taskbar.
Notepad Isn't Moving to Windows 10's Store After All
Microsoft won't update Notepad through Windows 10's Store after all. (Microsoft previously announced it would deliver MS Paint through the Store and cancelled that plan, too.)
How to Enable Classic Markdown Text Formatting in Slack
Don't like Slack's new editor? You can finally disable it and get the classic editor with Markdown-style formatting back. Here's how.
Windows 10's November 2019 Update Is the Best Yet
Windows 10's November 2019 Update is the best Windows 10 update yet. Microsoft should keep developing Windows 10 like this.
How to Avoid Snooping on Hotel Wi-Fi and Other Public Networks
Hotel Wi-FI networks are often completely open, requiring only a room number, code, or click-through to access the Internet.
How to Thoroughly Clean Your Dirty Desktop Computer
Just like your car, your house, and even your body, your computer needs a good cleaning every once and a while to prevent dust build-up and overheating.
How to Stop Microsoft Teams From Starting Automatically on Windows 10
Does Microsoft Teams automatically open every time you boot your PC? Here's how to disable it.
How to Share a Hotel's Single Wi-Fi Connection With All Your Devices
Many hotels still limit you to one or two Wi-Fi devices per room--a frustrating limitation, especially when traveling with someone else.
Google Is Killing Cloud Print at the End of 2020
Google Cloud Print is the latest service to be axed by Google. It's going away at the end of 2020.
How to Stop Your Disney+ Account From Getting Hacked
Thousands of Disney+ accounts have been "hacked." Here's how it happened and how you can protect your account. (Don't reuse passwords!)
How to Use OneDrive's "Personal Vault" to Secure Your Files
Microsoft's OneDrive has a "Personal Vault" that provides extra protection (and encryption!) for your sensitive files. Here's how it works.