The Brooks Review

Month: March 2017

  • Some comments on the Wikileaks CIA/#vault7 leak

    The only item I care about:

    > The CIA didn’t defeat Signal/WhatsApp encryption. The CIA has some exploits for Android/iPhone. If they can get on your phone, then of course they can record audio and screenshots.

    Also, Apple seems to believe they have patched the exploits mentioned in this leak already. To me this is the most interesting fact: that you *can* exploit something like an iPhone if you have possession of it. It will be really curious to me to see if Apple takes more hardware measures to protect the next generation of iPhones from this.

  • GORUCK GR1: Revisiting the Ultimate Backpack

    I’ve been saying for years now that the GORUCK GR1 is the best backpack you can buy. But is it still? After testing a lot of backpacks over the years, and continually buying new ones — both inexpensive and bank breaking — I have yet to find a better backpack than the GR1. This post isn’t another review, but rather a reflection of why the GR1 still holds its ground to this day.

    It has admittedly been a while since the GR1 was an everyday bag for me, but it is still my go to bag when I travel — be it weekend or longer. I emptied my closet the other day and pulled out a dozen or so backpacks, and started giving them away to friends. The GR1 is honestly just too perfect and thus I don’t need these other packs.

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  • Finding a Flashlight Part Two: Everyday Carry

    Finding a flashlight which my life can depend on is a lot easier than this part: finding something to carry everyday everywhere. A robust, solid flashlight, is easier because size doesn’t matter — all that matters is that it always works and works well.

    With an EDC light, there are a lot more factors:

    1. Size: it needs to fit on your person in a manner you are comfortable with.
    2. Longevity: assuming you use it a lot, you’ll want to be able to use it a lot.
    3. Features: you likely will want to vary the light output, among other things.

    You also have to value appearance here, because it’s something you are going to be using a lot and you want it to not look dorky (for lack of a better word). I mean, it will, because you are the person with a flashlight, but still.

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  • Secure computing for journalists

    Matthew Green:

    Since I couldn’t find a perfect layperson’s reference anywhere else, I’m going to devote this post to providing the world’s simplest explanation of why, in the threat model of your typical journalist, your desktop machine isn’t very safe. And specifically, why you’re safer using a modern mobile device — and particularly, an iOS device — than just about any other platform.

  • iPad Productivity Report — 3/6/17

    Let’s get back to talking about iPad productivity for a change.

    ## Applicable Producitivty

    [Denny Henke writing](http://beardyguycreative.com/blog/2017/03/02/ipad-journal-a-mess-of-stuff-getting-in-my-way/) about his explorations into some of the more robust productivity options for iPad users:

    > But I spent the better part of two hours with Copied and just came away frustrated. It may be that it’s just not suited to the way I work or maybe I need to spend more time learning it. Or, just as likely, it may be that I don’t write the kind of content or perform the kinds of tasks that benefit from that kind of app.

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  • How Uber Deceives the Authorities Worldwide

    Greyball was approved by Uber’s legal team.

    The company is shady to the core. This isn’t some bad actors, this is systemic and cultural.

  • New Stuff Day (video)

    Take a quick look at some stuff that arrive in the office, from a knife to Crystal Pepsi.

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