Dan Arel

Managing my mac apps through Homebrew

dan@danarel.com (Dan Arel) — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 03:38:48 +0000

In the years I didn’t own a Mac between 2015 and 2023 I was an avid Linux user. I couldn’t afford a Mac and hated Windows, so I got a Lenovo laptop on sale and put Linux on it. Some day I will write about my Linux distro history, but not here.

One thing I loved about Linux was how much time I spent in the command line installing apps and managing updates. It was just easier and faster than the GUI method elsewhere.

Why I don't trust the Brave browser

dan@danarel.com (Dan Arel) — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 04:18:21 +0000

This will be a rather controversial technology take, especially from someone who has been working on privacy and security for so long, but I do not trust the Brave browser or their search engine.

This isn’t to say they aren’t “private” or make any actual accusations, but privacy is to a degree about trust. You have to trust the software companies that they will always do the right thing, and I don’t trust that Brave will.

Back to Tech

dan@danarel.com (Dan Arel) — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:29:39 +0000

Over the years, this blog and my work have taken many forms. And so has my love or extended interest in technology.

For those who don’t know, I was the founder of ThinkPrivacy_ and a former member of PrivacyGuides, when it was still called PrivacyTools. I was a contributing writer for Startpage.

In those days, I was a big Linux user, and loved jumping distros but mainly an Arch user, and still love my Linux system, but have since switched to a Macbook Air, and a Macbook Pro at work. Yet, with my busy life as a dad, hockey coach, and day job, I fell out of the day to day tech life, something I have missed.

Welcome to the new site!

dan@danarel.com (Dan Arel) — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 12:24:35 -0700

I don’t expect to actually write here a lot, but I like to have a place to come if I have some thoughts to share. This page will be rather static and just a landing page to meet and learn more about me, some of the things I am into, and really, why not just have a site up if I own the domain?

I will eventually write a little more about myself and some of the journey I have been on to get here, but until then, welcome to the new site!