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 Optimize USB Storage for Better Performance on Windows 10
Microsoft says Windows 10 now optimizes USB devices for "quick removal" instead of "better performance." Here's what that means---and how to change it back, if you want.
Microsoft Abandons Windows 10's Constant Forced Updates
Huge Windows 10 news: Microsoft won't force you to update Windows 10 anymore. You'll actually have control!
Why Does Chrome Say It's "Managed By Your Organization?"
Chrome sometimes says it's "Managed By Your Organization"---even if you don't have an organization! Here's what that means.
Windows 10's "Stable" April 2019 Update Will Cause BSODs in Some Games
Windows 10 bug alert: The upcoming "stable" April 2019 Update will cause BSODs in some PC games. That GSOD bug hasn't been completely fixed, and Microsoft has confirmed it won't be.
How the Internet Killed April Fools' Day (and Why It Needs to Stop)
Warning: It's April Fools' Day. Here's how the Internet ruined this day---and why everyone needs to stop.
Update WinRAR Now to Protect Your PC From Attacks
WinRAR is being attacked. There's a patch available, but WinRAR doesn't auto-update and 500 million people have it installed. Most WinRAR users are still vulnerable.
How to Avoid Windows 7's End-of-Support Nags
Windows 7 will start nagging you to upgrade next month. Microsoft just rolled out the update with this change. Here's how to avoid the nags.
How to Protect Your BitLocker-Encrypted Files From Attackers
Security researchers recently extracted the BitLocker encryption keys from a computer's TPM. It's just the latest issue with BitLocker---here's how to protect your files on Windows.
The Best Free Dropbox Alternatives (For More Than 3 Devices)
Dropbox now limits free users to 3 syncing devices. Here are some alternative services without that limitation.
How to Select and Close Multiple Chrome or Firefox Tabs at Once
Chrome and Firefox let you select multiple tabs in their address bars. You can then close those tabs all at once. It blew our minds, too.
Linux 5.0 "Shy Crocodile" Arrives With Google's Adiantum Encryption
Linux 5.0 "Shy Crocodile" is here! Good news: Skynet ran on Linux kernel 4.1.15, but the machines haven't enslaved us yet.
New Spectre-Busting Update Speeds Up Windows 10 PCs
Your PC is about to get faster. Microsoft's Spectre speedup patches are now arriving on October 2018 Update systems.
Why Does Windows 10 Update So Much?
Here's why Windows 10 updates so much---and exactly what it's doing.
Get Help With File Explorer on Windows 10
Windows 10 no longer has built-in help for File Explorer, as Windows 7 does.
What Is the "Screen Door Effect" in VR?
The "screen door effect" often occurs when using modern virtual reality headsets.
Are Apps Really Recording Your iPhone’s Screen?
TechCrunch claims many iPhone apps "secretly record your screen.
How to Do Your 2018 Taxes Online For Free
The IRS is now accepting 2018 tax returns, and they're due on April 15, 2019.