Lunduke
News • Science & Tech
Make Computers Fun Again - Linux, UNIX, Alternative Operating Systems, Computer History, and Retro Computing. Also dad jokes.
Interested? Want to learn more about the community?
October 15, 2024

On this week in privacy, let's explore web apps and convenience.

Web apps are cool

Web apps are applications that run inside web browsers. As you probably already know, web apps have been around for years, most notably with in the form of electron apps, and have had varying levels of success. Whole frameworks like React and Vue are designed specifically to turn an ordinary web page into an interactive app that runs offline.

There are advantages and disadvantages of web apps. On the plus side, unless you allow notifications, they turn off when the browser is closed. There's no secret spying. They're also compatible with every operating system with a decent browser. On the negative size, native apps can be more feature rich, and better handle touch controls.

We can install web apps from the Brave menu. This creates a link on the app screen. Alternatively, we can just bookmark the site. Either works.

Logging in every time sucks

One of the biggest advantages of web apps in a secure browser is also a huge inconvenience. When the tab is closed, the app is deleted. This also deletes the login. So, the next time we visit the site, we have to open the password manager, the 2FA app, and possibly check our email to log back in. You may only do this once every few years with a native app.

The Sacrificial Browser

The solution is to download a second browser. Vivaldi is a great choice. In this new browser, turn on ad blocking, use a VPN when on WiFi, but don't delete session data when a tab or the browser is closed. This will keep us logged in. However, this will also allow the web app to spy on us depending on the permissions we give the app.

For that reason, we will only use this browser for web apps. Do not feed the machine by browsing the internet.

Using web apps properly

Never allow a web app to show notifications when you see the popup. That can allow the web app to run when the browser is closed. If you like being spied on, that's how you do it.

Apart from this, each web app is granted certain default permissions. These tend to be browser specific, but most will allow network access, sound, video and tab sandbox access to things like screen size and such. A good browser will outright deny some access while making an app ask permission for additional access - via a popup.

Be very, very careful about giving a web app any permissions. Unless it is obvious that the app needs access, say to upload photos, don't give them anymore than the default set. No need to let the web app fingerprint your machine. If you make a mistake, you can just clear the site data, log back in, and try again.

Summary

1. Web apps used in a secure browser require you to log in every time. This is far less convenient than using a native app, but also far less privacy invasive.
2. Download a second browser only for web apps. Keep the same security settings, except that data is allowed to remain in the browser.
3. Install the web apps via this second browser, and never give it permissions it doesn't need. Any permission you give it can be used to spy on you.

Interested? Want to learn more about the community?
What else you may like…
Videos
Podcasts
Posts
Articles
December 15, 2025
$89 Lifetime Subs All December

It's December. And you're awesome. So Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscriptions are only $89 all month long. Plus Monthly & Yearly subs are 50% off. Because... why not!

https://lunduke.substack.com/p/89-lifetime-subs-50-off-monthly-all

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:14:15
December 18, 2025
NeoFetch But in Rust and More Gay

HyFetch, a Rust re-write of the discontinued NeoFetch, asks users to choose their flag (Trans, GenderFluid, FemBoy, etc.) at first launch. Becomes defacto on several Linux distros.

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:22:28
December 17, 2025
Memory Corruption Vulnerability in Linux "Memory Safe" Rust Code

Rust programmers re-wrote a portion of the Linux kernel in Rust. That Rust code had a crashing vulnerability in an "unsafe" chunk of code... which Linux is littered with.

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:18:23
November 22, 2023
The futility of Ad-Blockers

Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.

It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links? Check here:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

The futility of Ad-Blockers
November 21, 2023
openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"

Those in power with openSUSE make it clear they will not allow me anywhere near anything related to the openSUSE project. Ever. For any reason.

Well, that settles that, then! Guess I won't be contributing to openSUSE! 🤣

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links?
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"
September 13, 2023
"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

Be sure to subscribe here at Lunduke.Locals.com to get all shows & articles (including interviews with other amazing nerds).

"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044
December 17, 2025
The FOMO of not having a Lifetime Subscription to The Lunduke Journal

Time for some Fun Lunduke Journal Facts of Fact-ly-ness!

  1. The “per-month” cost of a Lifetime Subscription to The Lunduke Journal is an asymptotic line. The longer you have that subscription, the closer it gets to $0.00.

  2. The Lifetime Subscription was first introduced 3 1/2 years ago… and is still going strong.

  3. The price of a Lifetime Subscription is currently discounted to $89. For life. That’s less than 1/3rd the normal price.

The earlier you pick one up, the quicker that asymptotic line begins approaching zero. Which is fun.

We Don’t Have Time Machines

If you think you might ever want a Lifetime Subscription, now is the time.

Imagine missing this discounted price and missing out on months of, mathematically certain, asymptotic line fun. This is one of those scenarios where Future You (tm) would want to travel back in time to tell Present You (tm) to snag a Lifetime Subscription.

Go. Grab the Lifetime Subscription for $89. That deal is good all December long.

There’s a video of me yammering about it too. Just for good measure.

You’re welcome.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
December 13, 2025
Lunduke Journal Lifetime Wall 2 almost full, plus Lifetime Sub as a gift

Two quick tidbits!

First: Lifetime Wall 2 Almost Full

The 2nd Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscriber Wall of Shame… err… I mean “Wall of Awesomeness” (which shows at the end of each video) is almost full! Holy cow! So many people have signed up over the last few days and asked to be added! Awesome!

There’s room for maybe 3 or 4 more names on there before I need to start Wall Number 3. So if you want to be on the 2nd wall, grab a Lifetime Sub quickly. (Though, really, being on the 3rd wall will be cool too.)

Plus, hey! You can snag one for $89 this month. Which is pretty sweet.

Second: Sending a Lifetime Sub as a Gift

Several of you have asked if it’s possible to send someone a Lifetime Subscription as a gift (at the discounted $89 / $99 price).

The answer is yes! And, instead of sending instructions to each of you, individually, I am including a Step-by-Step rundown on how to send someone a Lunduke Journal Lifetime Sub as a gift.

There are two options — Locals & Bitcoin — and both work equally well.

(Note: A gifted Lifetime subscription can also be applied to Substack accounts… it just can’t be purchased via Substack because of the way the system works for gifting it to another person.)

How to give a gift Lifetime Subscription via Locals:

  1. Go to Lunduke.Locals.com/support.

  2. Select “Give Once“.

  3. Enter “99“ (or more) into the amount field.

  4. Email “bryan at lunduke.com”. Include the following in that email:

    1. Have the words “Gift Sub” somewhere in the subject line.

    2. Include the email you used to make the purchase and the email address of gift recipient.

    3. Include any special instructions or requests, such as: A special message you would like included, when you would like an email sent to the recipient, or if you would prefer to let the recipient know yourself.

  5. Lunduke will send you a confirmation email after that. This usually happens within a few hours.

How to get a Lifetime Subscription with Bitcoin:

You can also send a gift Lifetime Subscription via Bitcoin.  (And it's $10 cheaper thanks to the lower processing fees of Bitcoin.)

  • Send $89 worth of Bitcoin (or more) to the following address:

bc1qyjakve8fywm8pz2v99v57yhjj0vzr2vjze6fcq

  • Email “bryan at lunduke.com”. Include the following in that email:

    1. What time you made the transaction, & how much was sent (in Bitcoin).

    2. Have the words “Gift Sub” somewhere in the subject line.

    3. Include the email address of gift recipient.

    4. Include any special instructions or requests, such as: A special message you would like included, when you would like an email sent to the recipient, or if you would prefer to let the recipient know yourself.

  • Lunduke will send you a confirmation email after that. This usually happens within a few hours.

Note: The Lifetime Subscription only applies to Substack, Locals, and the Lunduke Journal Forum. Other platforms (such as X, Patreon, & YouTube) do not provide the functionality necessary to create Lifetime Subscriptions.

Read full Article
December 12, 2025
Last Week on The Lunduke Journal - Fri, Dec 12, 2025

This last week has been, as usual, a doozy for Tech News.

The Mozilla Annual Report dropped, The EU & UK ramped up their war on US Free Speech, and the future of Rust in Linux was cemented (for better or worse).

But the most widely viewed, and yelled about, story of the week — by far — was “Prisma Drops Rust for Javascript, Sees Massive Speed Increase”. I tell ya, followers of the Church of Rust get grumpy if you utter anti-Rust blasphemy!

Oh, and a quick reminder: Lifetime Subscriptions can be snagged for $89 through the end of December. Monthly & Yearly subscriptions are 50% off as well. Just because.

All Shows From the Last Week

Below are all of the shows over the last 7 days, with links to Substack (where you can get both the audio or video versions). If you want to watch on a different platform (Locals, X, Rumble, YouTube, etc.) check Lunduke.com for all of the links.

As always, thank you for making The Lunduke Journal possible. If it weren’t for your support, most of these stories would never have been told (as no other Tech News outlet is covering them).

You rule.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
See More
Available on mobile and TV devices
google store google store app store app store
google store google store app tv store app tv store amazon store amazon store roku store roku store
Powered by Locals