Journal Genie

OVERVIEW

Journal Genie is a browser extension that helps you manage multiple accounts on popular journal websites. We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about how we handle your data.

WHAT INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Journal Genie collects and stores the following information locally on your device:

ACCOUNT CREDENTIALS:

• Usernames for your journal accounts
• Passwords for your journal accounts
• Custom display names you assign to accounts
• Domain names of journal websites you use
• API keys automatically generated for Dreamwidth accounts

USAGE DATA:

• Which account is currently logged in
• When accounts were added or last updated
• Your extension settings (show all sites, reload tabs preferences)
• Theme preferences (Default, Dark, Light, Blue, Green, Red, Yellow, Pink)
• Account validation status and error messages
• Custom sort order preferences for account organization

TECHNICAL DATA:

• User IDs for compatibility with other account management tools
• Website authentication cookies (managed automatically)
• API key creation and last-used timestamps for Dreamwidth
• Account creation and last-updated timestamps
• Import/export metadata for account backup files

HOW WE COLLECT INFORMATION

• Information you directly provide when adding or editing accounts
• Settings you configure in the extension interface
• Authentication data generated during login processes
• Import data when you upload account files from other tools
• API keys automatically generated for Dreamwidth authentication
• Theme and organization preferences you select

HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

Your information is used exclusively to:

• Authenticate you with journal websites
• Switch between your different accounts
• Store your account preferences and settings
• Import/export account data for backup or migration
• Display account status and validation information
• Generate and manage API keys for enhanced Dreamwidth authentication
• Validate account credentials and track authentication status
• Maintain custom account organization and display preferences
• Apply your chosen theme and interface settings

WHERE YOUR DATA IS STORED

DATA SHARING AND THIRD PARTIES

Journal Genie does NOT share your data with third parties.

AUTHENTICATION WITH JOURNAL SITES:

• The extension communicates directly with journal websites (InsaneJournal, Dreamwidth, LiveJournal, etc.) using your credentials
• For Dreamwidth, the extension may automatically generate API keys directly with Dreamwidth's servers
• This communication uses the same secure protocols as logging in manually
• We do not intercept, store, or transmit this authentication data to anyone else
• API keys are managed automatically and securely between your browser and Dreamwidth only

NO ANALYTICS OR TRACKING:

• We do not use analytics services
• We do not track your browsing behavior
• We do not collect usage statistics
• We do not use advertising networks

DATA SECURITY

PROTECTION MEASURES:

• All data is stored using browser built-in secure storage mechanisms
• Passwords are handled using industry-standard hashing methods required by journal sites
• API keys are generated and stored securely using encrypted browser storage
• The extension follows browser security guidelines and permissions model
• Only the minimum necessary browser permissions are requested

AUTHENTICATION SECURITY:

• Uses the same MD5 hashing protocols as the journal sites themselves
• Follows LiveJournal-style authentication standards
• Dreamwidth API keys are generated using official Dreamwidth protocols
• Cookies are managed securely and automatically expire
• Authentication validation helps prevent login attempts with invalid credentials

YOUR CONTROL OVER DATA

YOU CAN:

• View all stored account information in the extension interface
• Edit or delete any account at any time
• Export all your data to a backup file
• Completely remove all data by uninstalling the extension
• Control which accounts are displayed using extension settings
• Customize themes and organizational preferences
• View and manage API key status for Dreamwidth accounts
• Clear validation errors and update account credentials

DATA RETENTION:

• Data is kept only as long as the extension is installed
• You can delete individual accounts or all data at any time
• Uninstalling the extension permanently removes all stored data
• API keys are automatically managed and cleared when accounts are deleted

CHANGES TO ACCOUNTS:

• Update passwords when you change them on journal sites
• Modify display names and account preferences
• Import or export data for backup or migration purposes
• API keys are automatically regenerated when needed for Dreamwidth
• Organize accounts with custom sorting and themes

CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

Journal Genie does not knowingly collect information from children under 13. The extension is designed for users who have accounts on journal websites, which typically require users to be 13 or older.

CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. When we do:

• The updated policy will be included with extension updates
• We will note the revision date at the top of the policy
• Continued use of the extension after updates constitutes acceptance of the new policy
• We will not make changes that significantly affect your privacy without clear notice

DATA DELETION

TO REMOVE ALL DATA:

1. Uninstall Journal Genie from your browser
2. This will permanently delete all stored accounts, settings, preferences, and API keys
3. No data will remain on your device or anywhere else

TO REMOVE SPECIFIC ACCOUNTS:

1. Open Journal Genie
2. Click the "X" button next to any account to delete it
3. The account information and associated API keys will be immediately removed

INTERNATIONAL USERS

Journal Genie stores all data locally on your device regardless of your location. Since no data is transmitted to servers, international data transfer regulations do not apply to this extension's normal operation.

When you authenticate with journal websites, you are subject to those websites' privacy policies and terms of service.

Supported Website Ecosystem: Journal Genie works with InsaneJournal, Dreamwidth, LiveJournal, and the broader ecosystem of custom LJ-compatible sites including personal journal installations, community-hosted sites, roleplay communities, and custom domains. This diverse ecosystem requires broad site access for persistent authentication management across multiple platforms that cannot be predetermined.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

DATA FORMATS:

• Account data is stored in JSON format for easy import/export
• Compatible with LJ Juggler account formats for migration
• Uses browser storage.local API for secure local storage
• API keys are stored with secure encryption provided by browser storage

WHY BROAD PERMISSIONS ARE NECESSARY:

• Persistent Authentication: Unlike simple content access, journal account switching requires persistent cookie management and authentication state tracking across browser sessions
• Multi-Tab Session Management: Users often have multiple tabs open across different journal sites and need seamless account switching without per-tab permissions
• Custom Domain Support: The journal community includes thousands of personal installations and community sites on unpredictable domains that cannot be pre-specified
• Background Authentication: Account validation and automatic login require background access rather than one-time activeTab permissions

BROWSER PERMISSIONS:

• Storage: To save your account information, preferences, and API keys locally
• Cookies: To manage authentication with journal sites
• Active Tab: To detect which journal site you're visiting
• Scripting: To interact with journal website login forms and detect login status
• Tabs: To optionally reload tabs after account switching
• Host Permissions: To work with all journal websites and custom LJ-compatible sites including personal installations, community-hosted sites, and custom domains that cannot be predetermined. Required for persistent authentication management and cookie access across multiple journal platforms rather than one-time access. The diverse ecosystem includes personal blogs, community servers, roleplay communities, and custom installations on unpredictable domains.

DREAMWIDTH API KEY MANAGEMENT:

• API keys are automatically generated when you add a Dreamwidth account
• Keys are created by communicating directly with Dreamwidth's official API
• No manual API key management is required from users
• Keys are stored securely and used only for authentication with Dreamwidth
• API keys are automatically refreshed when they expire or become invalid