Privacy for OrangeCrumbs HN Reader

OrangeCrumbs HN Reader is a public beta reader for public Hacker News discussions. It does not require an account, does not take payments, and is designed to keep core reading useful without collecting more data than the reader needs.

Local browser storage

The reader stores convenience state in your browser, including read story IDs in IndexedDB, bookmarks, reader settings, theme, comment display preferences, and URL state such as the selected feed or story. This local state stays on your device unless your browser syncs it or you export/share it yourself.

Imported flashcards

Anki deck import is processed locally. The reader stores the selected card fronts and backs, deck names, supported images and audio, and OrangeCrumbs review history in IndexedDB. It does not store the original APKG file, upload cards, or sync them to OrangeCrumbs or Anki. Remote images, media, and styles embedded in a card are blocked; opening an HTTP or HTTPS link in a card is an intentional request to that destination.

Flashcard storage is unencrypted and belongs to the whole www.orangecrumbs.com browser origin, not only the /hn/ path. Other code running on that origin, browser extensions with access, another person using the same browser profile, browser backups, or local device access may be able to read it. Do not import passwords, private keys, medical records, confidential work material, or other highly sensitive information. Delete an imported deck in Manage decks, or use Clear flashcard data to remove the dedicated flashcard database.

Server-side storage

The service may keep normal Cloudflare Worker/platform logs and short-lived rate-limit records to operate the reader and protect it from abuse. These records are used for reliability, debugging, and traffic safety.

Third-party requests

Reading live stories and comments can request public Hacker News data. Story-source HN history can request Algolia HN Search from your browser. Lightweight previews may request public APIs or endpoints for Hacker News item identity, GitHub repositories, YouTube oEmbed, Wikipedia summaries, Google favicon images, Cloudflare services, and the external sites you choose to open. These services may receive the requested URL, your IP address, browser details, and timing metadata.

External links and previews

Opening an external link sends you to that third-party site. The third-party site may receive your IP address, browser details, and timing metadata.

Retention expectations

Browser-local state remains until you clear site data or reset the reader. Imported flashcards remain until you delete the import, clear flashcard data, or clear browser site data. Rate-limit records are scoped to short request windows. Cloudflare platform logs follow the retention configured for the deployed Cloudflare account.

Analytics

Because imported cards can contain personal information, HN Reader pages do not load Cloudflare Web Analytics or other third-party analytics scripts. OrangeCrumbs does not add advertising pixels, session replay, or custom product-event analytics, and it does not send card content, raw comment text, typed keyboard input, search queries, or external link URLs as analytics events.

Contact

For privacy questions, deletion requests where applicable, bug reports, or takedown requests, contact [email protected].

Last updated: July 28, 2026.