THE READER.ME JOURNAL
Notes on PDFs, privacy, and standards.
How the tools work, why your files never leave the browser, and the technical detail that matters.
Edit PDFs offline: why a PWA that works without internet matters
reader.me is an installable PWA that edits PDFs with no internet. Everything runs in your browser with WebAssembly, so on a plane or with no signal it still works.
Jul 22, 2026 · 6 min readSecurityNonprofits: protecting member and donor data in PDFs
Member lists, donor records and receipts live in PDFs. Here's how a small nonprofit protects, signs and handles them locally, with no upload and no budget.
Jul 20, 2026 · 7 min readPrivacyJournalists: handling confidential documents and sources privately
A leaked PDF can burn your source through metadata or an upload you forgot about. Here's how to merge, lock, and clean sensitive documents in your browser.
Jul 18, 2026 · 7 min readPrivacyHow to check in 30 seconds if a PDF site uploads your files
Open your browser's Network tab, drop a PDF, and watch. In 30 seconds you can see whether a PDF site uploads your file or keeps it on your device.
Jul 16, 2026 · 6 min readSecurityPDF encryption explained: what AES-128 really protects
What it means to encrypt a PDF, how AES-128 works, the difference between an open password and permissions, and what password protection does and doesn't cover.
Jul 14, 2026 · 7 min readPrivacyFreelancers: invoices and contracts in PDF, nothing uploaded
Invoices, contracts and quotes in PDF, signed and sent without printing or uploading. A privacy-first workflow for freelancers, all in your browser.
Jul 12, 2026 · 6 min readNo spam. Just PDF craft.
Once in a while, a useful note on PDFs and privacy.