MakeUseOf

Chris Hoffman

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About Chris Hoffman

Chris Hoffman is a tech blogger and all-around technology addict living in Eugene, Oregon.

Latest Articles

8 Ridiculous & Inconsistent Apple App Store Guidelines [Opinion]

Here’s a radical opinion - you should be able to run any apps you like on the devices you own. Apple doesn’t agree, and it’s twisted itself into pretzels creating arbitrary rules for what app developers – and you – can do with your device. These guidelines – although Apple reserves the right to change them at any time – are actually an improvement over the past situation.

Easily Back Up & Restore Files With Altaro Oops!Backup

From the developers of Hyper-V backup comes Altaro Oops!Backup ($37) -- a particularly slick, full-featured one backup solution for home PC users. We’re giving away 25 Altaro Oops!Backup licenses worth $925 in total! Read on for your chance to win.

How To Use Firefox Profiles & Run Multiple Firefox Profiles At Once

Firefox stores your browser data – bookmarks, history, preferences, extensions, and everything else – in a directory known as a profile. Each user account has a single profile by default, but you don’t have to restrict yourself to just one -- you can create multiple profiles and even run multiple Firefox instances with different profiles as the same time. Set up separate profiles for anything you like.

10 Hilarious Videos That Show TV & Movies Failing To Understand Technology

Time and time again, television shows and films have fallen flat on their faces when it comes to understanding technology, and the results make for great entertainment. Think of this as a “greatest hits” list of some of the most hilarious and ridiculous examples that have been mentioned on the Web.

The Top 6 Things To Consider When You Install Java Software

Oracle’s Java runtime software is required to run Java applets on websites and desktop software written in the Java programming language. When installing Java, there are a few things you should consider, especially regarding security. Java is used by an ever-decreasing number of websites and is a frequent target of attacks. Most people could remove Java and not notice a difference.

What's Up With eMule These Days? Is The File Sharing Network Slowly Becoming Obsolete?

Believe it or not, eMule is still alive and kicking. These days, file sharing is all about BitTorrent and file-hosting websites like RapidShare and the ill-fated MegaUpload. Many of the older file-sharing applications have long-passed - LimeWire, Kazzaa, AudioGalaxy, Napster – they’re no more. But eMule is still with us. It’s a peer-to-peer file-sharing application that uses eDonkey servers and its own decentralized Kad network.

How To Block Any Site Or Browser From Saving Recent Sites You Visited

Your web browser stores a list of your recently visited websites. Clearing this list is easy, but you’ll want to block your browser from saving history in the first place if you find yourself clearing it all the time. The privacy problems don’t stop there - out-of-date web browsers allow websites to snoop on your history. And if you’ve got a Google account, Google may know more about your browsing history than you think.

How to Create a Hidden Service Tor Site to Set Up an Anonymous Website or Server

Tor is an anonymous, secure network that allows anyone to access websites with anonymity. People normally use Tor to access normal websites, but they don’t have to. If you want to set up your own anonymous website, you can create a hidden service Tor site. Your hidden service website runs entirely within Tor, so no one will know who created and runs the website. Only people using Tor can access it, though.

Make Free Phone Calls Over Wi-Fi/Data Using Talkatone [Android & iOS]

In the future, your phone will only need a data connection. Paying for voice minutes and text messages will be an outdated concept and you’ll be able to communicate entirely over Wi-Fi. Google already offers free calls from your web browser, but they don’t offer this feature on smartphones to avoid upsetting the carriers. Talkatone does what Google won’t and offers free calls and texts over Wi-Fi.

8 Ways to Help Open-Source Projects If You're Not a Coder

We’ve covered why it’s important to contribute to open-source projects, but what if you’re not a coder? You don't have to learn how to program to help your favorite open-source projects. Many non-programmers volunteer some of their time to help their favorite open source projects - and you can join them. If you have some free time - or money - you can give back to your favorite open-source projects and help them grow.

AkelPad vs Notepad Plus - Can It Even Compete As A Notepad Alternative?

There are lots of Notepad replacements out there, and it seems like everyone has their own favorite. Notepad++ is one of the most popular, but AkelPad is a more minimal option. AkelPad is a fast, simple replacement for Notepad - it's an improved Notepad with much more flexibility. AkelPad feels very similar to Notepad after you install it, but it can start to feel like Notepad++ if you enable enough plugins.

6 Ways Microsoft Is Killing The Traditional Desktop In Windows 8 [Opinion]

The traditional desktop is still around in Windows 8, and it’s probably the best Windows desktop yet (aside from not having a Start menu.) But Microsoft is setting it up for the kill. The writing is on the wall here -- touch and Metro are the future. The traditional desktop is a relic on its way out.

The Microsoft Malware Removal Tool - How Well Does It Work?

If you keep an eye on the updates Windows installs, you may notice the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool appearing every month. It removes some malware programs, but only a few -- it doesn't replace the need for an antivirus.

Windows 7 Firewall: How It Compares Against Other Firewalls

Windows 7 contains an unobtrusive, easy-to-use firewall that protects your computer from inbound traffic. If you're looking for more advanced options, such as the ability to control outbound traffic or view the applications using your Internet connection, you'll want a third-party firewall instead.

10 Really Cool Games From The Google Chrome Store [MUO Gaming]

The Chrome Web Store contains thousands of games - we've dug through them for you and unearthed some gems. Whether you're looking for casual fun, Zen puzzles, rich 3D graphics, arcade-style multiplayer action or interesting art, we've got a cool game for you. Some games are full applications that use Google's Native Client to deliver rich 3D graphics or HTML 5 for offline support.

Sick Of The Old Command Prompt in Windows 7? Upgrade To Console

Microsoft overhauled and updated much of Windows with Windows 7, but the Command Prompt hasn't been updated since the last century. It's not just ancient-looking; it lacks many of the features command-line users have come to expect on Macs, Linux and any operating system that isn't Windows. If you’re looking for an improved Command Prompt for Windows 7, look no further.

Encrypt Your Dropbox Files With BoxCryptor

Dropbox is a great service, but its security track record is nothing to be proud of. We’ve previously written about encrypted alternatives to Dropbox, but let’s be honest -- Dropbox stands out among cloud storage services for its zen simplicity. Much as we’d like encryption, it’s hard to give up Dropbox. BoxCryptor is an encryption solution for anyone who wants encryption but just can’t let Dropbox go.

The 5 Coolest Websites To Go On A Virtual Adventure

It's a big world out there, full of natural wonders, incredible monuments and fascinating culture. Much as we'd like to be out exploring it every day, very few of us can. It's a good thing we have the Internet. Do you want to explore the world's most famous locations, take a virtual safari, visit the zoo, tour a famous museum or travel almost anywhere? You can do it right from your web browser.

Use A Password Management Strategy To Simplify Your Life

Much of the advice around passwords has been near-impossible to follow: use a strong password containing numbers, letters and special characters; change it regularly; come up with a completely unique password for each account etc. It’s no wonder so many people have thrown up their hands and given up on password security. Here, we’ll show you some simple ways to get your passwords in order and save brain power.

5 Tips On Keeping Sensitive Information Out Of Your Chat Logs & Emails

So you’re talking to someone online and you need to share a password or another sensitive piece of information - what do you do? Send it in an email or instant message? Your sensitive information will sit around in email archives and chat logs forever. You'll need one of those tricks up your sleeve. There are many ways to share a piece of information without it appearing in your chat logs and emails.

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