Ditching Google?

Level1Techs INBOX.deb
1

From the last Inbox, there was a lot of talk from ditching Google and escaping the data mining. I'd be interested to hear the steps that would require

  1. What email client would you use instead of Gmail? (web, desktop and mobile)
  2. Would switching from Gmail to something else, but still using Android be counter intuitive?
  3. What other Google services should be ditched also? Which ones should you keep?
  4. What is stopping you from switching from Chrome? (assuming you use chrome)
  5. How is Chromium supposedly more secure than Chrome when it's basicly the same thing minus built in Flash support?

Thanks for your time!

1 Like
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So, I really want to answer 5, but I'll take a stab at all of them:

  1. Could try Bitmessage, or just start your own e-mail server
  2. Wouldn't be counter-intuitive, but definitely difficult as you essentially cut yourself off from Google's awesome walled-garden of apps (AKA Play Store), which greatly limits Androids practical abilities, such as navigation via Google Maps. There are alternative stores, such as F-Droid (open source apps only), but it pales in comparison as it's clunky, slow, and not very organized, and the other stores that come close also seem to harvest data, so may as well Google. It's seems to be either go Google on Android, or go Stallman. I'm trying to do the Stallman thing on my Galaxy Note II, but I still the Play Store to access certain apps just out of convenience; manually downloading APK's from XDA is a pain.
  3. All Google services should be ditched if you're concerned about data harvesting and privacy. Data is Google's business, and if you get the service for free, you are the product
  4. Chrome is fast, customizable, and convenient. I've been having performance issues with Firefox, and Chromium is a bit of a pain to set up, and updating on Windows is a pain in the ass. Not bad on Linux though, as it the system itself already comes with a PDF reader and flash should die anyway.
  5. Chrome is based on Chromium, but there are several differences, such as install ID's and auto-updater, in addition to lacking proprietary plug-ins such as a PDF reader and the Pepper Flash plug in. But the biggest difference is, Chrome, as a whole, is packaged as proprietary freeware. While Chrome is made up of mostly open-source components, Google can add and remove components and code as they see fit without your knowledge; your privacy is ultimately at Google's mercy. Chromium, on the other hand, is entirely open-source without a shred of proprietary software, which puts your privacy in your hands as chromium, by the very nature of being open source, is transparent with its functions.
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The biggest issue i have had so far ( other than android and youtude) when ditching google is the search engine. I am using duckduckgo for search but its nowhere near as developed as googles. Google knows it will take time to replace their search engine. Then, they will probaly just buy them out at some point and i will have to start the search for another one. :(

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Thanks for the answers! For #1, I meant what clients, such as Thunderbird, Roundcube, etc.

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I've had the same experience. I've used DuckDuckGo for about a week, but the results just weren't as good as Google's.

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use Startpage for you "googling" needs. you search goes through startpage's servers before it gets to google so you have at least one layer of protection.

 

and I haven't had a google account for a year now not even on youtube.

Sorry Logan I sub to Teksyndicate through here now.

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Use DuckDuckGo and add "!g" at the end of your search. DuckDuckGo will then use Google - This way Google won't know it was you that made that search.

I've been using DuckDuckGo for a while, and I sorta agree. When looking for more obscure things, DDG and be hit or miss, especially with videos and images, but it works well enough for more common searches. And its ability to redirect your searches to other search engines without being linked directly back to you is pretty awesome.

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1. I use protonmail and tutanota as my primary email. Don't know about protonmail, but tutanota will release android app in following weeks.

2. I'm anti-google but still have android on my phone, so I'm too confused myself to answer this question.

3. Everything if possible. For me, mega and owncloud replaced Google Drive, DAVdroid replaced contacts and calendar sync on the phone, duckduckgo replaced Google Search (I still use Google Search sometimes, but I make sure I'm not logged in when using it). To make sure Google can't follow me on the web I have added google services to windows hosts file (analytics.google.com for example) and Self-destructing cookies makes sure to clean my browser from google cookies. I've also ajax.googleapis.com to redirect to my localhost where I run my own HTTP server where I have all the needed files to make websites work. I still have to use Youtube, thanks to mainstream content creators (wink wink tek syndicate).

4. Firefox here. Can't stand Chrome for a second.

5. Chromium is open source, Chrome is not meaning that Google may have some nasty stuff in it (and probably has).

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Thanks for the answers. Protonmail seems interesting, but I'm still on a waitlist.

I am quite surprised that you pretty much completely ditched Google all together. I don't think I'm anywhere near being ready to do that. I still like many of Google's services, but want to avoid using the services that are particularly invasive like Gmail. I may completely move off Google eventually, but I'm not ready for that yet.