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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.

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Xorg Officially Abandons "Master" Branch for "Main", Throws Away 2 Years of Code

The newly created "Main" branch re-bases the open source X11 server on code from February of 2024, specifically to avoid code written by the creator of XLibre (the increasingly successful Xorg fork).

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

00:14:21
February 16, 2026
Ars Technica Publishes Al-Generated Article on Al Bot Writing Anti-Human Hit Pieces

Tech News site Ars Technica has now deleted an Al-generated article (complete with fake, Al hallucinated quotes) regarding an Al Bot writing blog post hit pieces accusing humans of anti-Al "prejudice".

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

00:27:10
February 13, 2026
OpenClaw AI Bot Writes DEI-Style Hit Piece Against "Prejudiced" Human Developer

A code change submitted by an Al bot was rejected by an open source project developer. In retaliation, the Al bot accused the human of "Gatekeeping" and "Prejudice" in a Leftist-style rampage.

The Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscription:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/the-lunduke-journal-lifetime-subscription

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https://lunduke.com/

00:31:00
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

Somebody dropped off an old Gateway M275 tablet pc that was bound for recycling and I decided to see if I could get in. Sure enough, saved username, no password, and tons of random crap installed slowing it to a crawl. Feels like early XP SP2 used by a normal computer user to me. And, of course, the IE toolbars for both Google and Yahoo. It does have a copy of Age of Empires III on here though, and some good stuff in the Rhapsody folder.

A TODO List of Notepad Clones:

In light of recent events three members of the forum have already completed their own clones of Notepad. I have started work on a fourth but more importantly, have started tracking our progress towards cloning that app using every language and widget library available on Windows.

https://forum.lunduke.com/t/todo-list-of-notepad-clones/3688

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February 12, 2026
4th Wall Almost Full, $89 Lifetime Deal Ends Very Soon

Woo-hoo! The 4th Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscriber Wall of Shame Awesomeness is almost full!

  • That means that, within the next day or two, the massively discounted Lifetime Subscriptions will go back to their normal price. So if you wanted to snag the $89 / $99 Lifetime Sub (instead of paying $300), now’s your last chance.

  • If you are already a Lifetime Subscriber and want to be added to the 4th (or the start of the 5th) wall, email me (bryan at lunduke.com). There are only a couple of spots left on Wall 4.

  • The new Lifetime Wall designs are locked and loaded, and will make their grand debut at the end of all new shows starting either Friday or Monday.

I also wanted to take a moment to thank all of the non-Lifetime Subscribers. The Lifetime Subs may get a little extra attention at the end of the shows… but every subscriber (Monthly & Yearly) helps to make this work possible.

All of you rule.

-Lunduke

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February 08, 2026
79 Million Views in 6 Months for The Lunduke Journal

Welcome to February, all of you amazing nerds!

January was a fun month for The Lunduke Journal (thanks to all of you). For those interested in a little Inside Baseball, I’ve pulled together some stats and charts below.

The short version: Great month. Crazy news stories. Solid growth. Can’t complain!

Revamped Lifetime Wall

Oh! And the “Lifetime Subscriber Wall” is getting a “retro” facelift.

This is what the four Lifetime Walls currently look like:

 

Once that 4th Wall is filled (a little over 75% of the way there as of this morning), I’ll be introducing the new designs (for all the walls) along with the starting of Wall Number 5.

Each Wall now has its own, distinct look and theme. Very Retro Computer-y. You’re going to dig it.

To make that “Wall Number 5” get here as fast as possible, I’ve gone ahead an reinstated the “$89 Lifetime Subscriber” deal. But only until Wall Number 4 is full.

Want to be on the Wall? If you don’t have a Lifetime Subscription, grab one. If you already have one, email me (bryan at lunduke.com) to let me know how you want your name to be displayed.

Once Wall 4 is full, the Super-Mega-Ultra Discounted Lifetime Subscription goes back to regular price. And, the next day, the new Lifetime Wall design appears at the end of new shows.

At the current rate, I expect that to happen in the next couple days.

Stats for January, 2026

Now let’s look at the stats for January.

Can’t lie. I’m pleased.

  • 30 new shows (just shy of one new show every day)

  • 15.2 Million views (including podcast downloads)

  • 2,326 new subscribers

The most popular story of January, 2026:

Taking a high level view: This means that, in the last 6 months (Aug ‘25 - Jan ‘26), The Lunduke Journal has had:

  • 79.4 Million views

  • 21,694 new subscribers

Bonkers, right?

Here’s a chart of “views” for last 6 months:

Image
 

The long-term trend continues to be solidly upward, with February (in the first 7 days, so far) currently tracking slightly ahead of January.

For those interested in the specific platforms: The Lunduke Journal is seeing the most growth on X and the Audio Podcast.

Here’s a combined subscriber chart for January (up 2,326 subscribers from the month prior):

Image
 

Wild. It is truly amazing to me how widely these stories are spreading nowadays.

Over 15 million. In one month.

These are numbers that most of the big, “Main Stream” Tech Journalists could only dream of.

The reach of The Lunduke Journal, thanks to all of you, is now wildly exceeding any other publication I have ever worked with.

Even though most “Main Stream” Tech Journalists are refusing to cover some of the biggest stories in Tech… those stories are still getting out there.

They are being seen. Far and wide.

Thanks to all of you.

-Lunduke

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January 31, 2026
$89 Lifetime Offer Ends at Midnight!

I’ll make this quick: The $89 Lifetime Subscription offer for The Lunduke Journal ends at midnight tonight (Saturday, January 31st).

Once the calendar reads “February” — poof — the deal is gone.

If you wanted to save 70% on a Lifetime Subscription, these are your final hours.

A huge thank you to everyone who has signed up during this crazy deal. We are this close to filling up the 4th Lifetime Subscriber Wall (there’s a possibility it might fill up in the next few hours).

Far beyond anything I was expecting. All of you are absolutely amazing. The Lunduke Journal would not be possible without you.

If you were on contemplating grabbing that Lifetime Sub, I’d jump on it right now. The price goes back up to normal ($300) in about 12 hours or so.

Get it while it’s cheap!

-Lunduke

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