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
Why You Can't Get Infected Just By Opening an Email (Anymore)
Email viruses are real, but computers aren't infected just by opening emails anymore.
What You Need to Know About NVIDIA Optimus
Laptop manufacturers have a choice -- they can include onboard graphics for better battery life or discrete graphics hardware for better gaming performance.
What is NFC (Near Field Communication), and What Can I Use It For?
NFC or Near Field Communication is a protocol that helps two devices communicate wirelessly when they are placed right next to each other---for instance, smartphones or smart watches can be used for payments or boarding passes.
Why Is My Browser Storing So Much Private Data?
Between the browser history and tracking cookies, it’s easy to feel like your browser is tracking and spying on you.
Beginner Linux Users: Don't Be Scared of the Terminal
Linux users often use the terminal to accomplish tasks.
How Latency Can Make Even Fast Internet Connections Feel Slow
There is more to an Internet connection’s speed than just its bandwidth.
What Is NoScript, and Should You Use It to Disable JavaScript?
NoScript was considered, by many Firefox users, a must-have extension, and it's now available for the new Firefox Quantum.
Why Android Geeks Buy Nexus Devices
The Galaxy S III is the highest-selling Android phone, but much of the geeky buzz is around the Nexus 4 – and the Galaxy Nexus before it.
What Is a "Zero-Day" Exploit, and How Can You Protect Yourself?
The tech press is constantly writing about new and dangerous "zero-day" exploits.
How to Automatically Free Up Storage Space with macOS Sierra
If you have a Mac that's always running low on space, macOS Sierra is a breath of fresh air.
How to Open Apps from "Unidentified Developers" on Your Mac
macOS has a feature called "Gatekeeper" designed to lock down your Mac, forcing it to only run Apple-approved software by default.
How to Earn Amazon Gift Cards by Using Bing and Edge, Thanks to Microsoft Rewards
Microsoft desperately wants you to use its Edge web browser and Bing search engine.
Why Free, Ad-Supported Apps May Cost You More Than Paid Apps
Free, ad-supported apps have two hidden costs: They use your phone's data connection and battery power to download and display ads.
How Encryption Can Be Bypassed With a Freezer
Geeks often consider encryption a fool-proof tool to ensure that data stays secret.
The Difference Between Gaming "Lag" and Low FPS (and How to Fix Them)
Many gamers refer to any performance problem in an online game as "lag.
Why Every User On Your Computer Should Have Their Own User Account
Multiple user accounts were once impractical to use on Windows, but they aren’t anymore.
The Security Risks of Unlocking Your Android Phone's Bootloader
Android geeks often unlock their bootloaders to root their devices and install custom ROMs.
Why You Should Perform Clean Installs, Not Upgrades
Whether you’re installing the latest version of Windows or upgrading your Linux distribution, most geeks agree that you should probably perform a clean installation rather than try your luck with an upgrade.