How to Free From Google??
If you're worried about your confidentiality, you might be worried about Google's increasing prevalence. Let us discuss how to free from Google services, here's how to do it, and here is what you'll lose.
Before we get started, it's important to examine how practical the goal of excluding Google from your life is, as well as some of the drawbacks. Google is everywhere, and it's there in ways you would not expect. They're Google advertisements. The name of the traffic analysis program we use, Google Analytics is a tool that allows you to track your online What font are we using? That information was gleaned via Google. Even when you're not using Gmail, Google will keep your email address and, unless they've been encrypted, the emails you send. You may absolutely reduce your Google exposure, but unless you hide in an internet-free hut in the middle of nowhere, you won't be able to fully eradicate it. On 75% of the top million websites, Google trackers have been found. This implies they track not only what you look for, but also whatever websites you frequently visit, and they use all of your information to target you with adverts that trail you across the web.
People are becoming extremely aware of the dangers of relying on a single firm for so many personal services. If you've concluded that Google's data gathering has gotten too intrusive, here are several alternatives with low switching costs. The majority are free, but even those that aren't are worthwhile. Not switching comes at a cost to your personal privacy, but the good news is that ''We do have a Choice''!
You're also just getting into a different corporation with similar problems if you replace a Google service with another free one. While there are exceptions, virtually every firm that provides a free service collects data on you and uses it to deliver advertisements. If you're not the customer, you're the product. It's a familiar proved cliche, but that doesn't make it any less true. You nearly always have to pay for services if you truly want your privacy to be safeguarded. Without advertisements, businesses would simply cease to exist.
Another thing to remember is that Google services are interconnected. Google Drive files may be edited in Google Docs and instantly added to an email message in Gmail. You're unlikely to get the same smooth integration if you replace each of these services with a new one as if you remain with Google.
How to Make a Google Search Alternative
Google Search is by far the most well-known of Google's products. It's the bedrock upon which their entire empire rests. There are, thankfully, still some alternative search engines available. While Bing and Yahoo are still accessible, accessing one of them essentially means substituting Microsoft or Verizon for Google.
Recommendations- If you wish to replace Google with a privacy-focused search engine.
1. DuckDuckGo- Free
Let's start with the most basic! Switching to DuckDuckGo not only keeps your searches confidential, but also provides you additional benefits like unique bang shortcuts, convenient Instant Answers, and the assurance that you won't be caught in a filter bubble. Its entire premise is that, while it offers to advertise relevant to your search, marketers are never permitted to follow you, and your search history is kept entirely private. For general searches, DuckDuckGo has been just as good as Google.
2. FastMail (paid), ProtonMail (free with paid features), Tutanota, Gmail, Calendar, and Contacts (free with paid options)
FastMail is a premium, standalone solution that supports calendars and contacts throughout all devices. Incorporating PGP encryption algorithms is also a good method to receive encrypted correspondence between trustworthy people.ProtonMail and Tutanota, both offer edge encryption by standard and have more personal email options.
3. Replacing Google Chrome
The easiest thing to accomplish on this list is to replace Google Chrome. Personally, if you're using a Mac, I'd suggest staying with Safari. There's basically no need to use something else if you're attempting to avoid Google. You can't go wrong with Firefox if you're using anything else. DuckDuckGo was the first major browser to provide a built-in private search feature, and Safari was the first to do so. Mozilla Firefox, an open-source browser with a built-in tracker blocker, is a more cross-device flexible browser. Firefox takes it a step further by enabling tracker blocking by default. Several other browsers, such as Vivaldi, which is well for power users, have DuckDuckGo as a built-in alternative.
4. WordPress.com, Blogger Ghost (paid) (free with paid options)
Ghost is a blogging platform that is both hosted and self-installable, tracker-free by configuration, and operated by a non-profit corporation. People enjoy it so much that they've decided to use it on our own blog! WordPress is a free alternative that powers about 33% of the world's websites. It's also accessible as a self-installed program or as a web host, with no third-party trackers installed by design. There is a large community with substantial multilingual content and a variety of themes to select from.
5. Youtube
Honestly, there isn't a suitable online video viewing alternative to YouTube. Vimeo is a wonderful place to post your own videos, but the material is oriented toward directors and videographers rather than vloggers. There are some wonderful documentaries to watch there, but not nearly as many amusing cat videos. Similarly, Twitch is great if you want to watch gamers stream live, but it's a very exclusive audience. It's also owned by Amazon, so you're interacting with a large corporation that doesn't care about your privacy.
6. Google Docs
Although Google Docs was the first major online communal document solution, it is no longer the sole option. Both Microsoft and Apple provide free online versions of Office and iWork; all you need is a Microsoft or Apple account to login in and get going. While there are other options,
7. Signal for Google Duo and Android Messages (free)
There are numerous platforms that allow private texting, but we prefer Signal, as previously stated. For both communications and private calls, it provides free end-to-end encryption.
8. MeWe (free with a premium version) on Google Groups, Discourse on paid, or free if self-hosted)
MeWe is a social networking site built on private and public groups. They make it explicit in their privacy policy that they do not collect or disclose personal information. Discourse, an open-source conversation platform featuring public and private chats, a trust system, and spam prevention, is another option.
9. AdSense & Google Ads - CodeFund
CodeFund is presently limited to developers and designers, however, if that's your target demographic, this is a network for both advertising and hosting advertisements with an emphasis on ethics, implementing relevant advertising rather than behavioral advertising. They take efforts to prevent users from being tracked, such as not recording IP addresses, and the platform code is open source for anybody to see.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, getting away from Google doesn't have to be difficult. Indeed, you may find that you prefer the alternatives while simultaneously benefiting from increased privacy! With a little bit of planning and considerations, you can reduce your interactions with Google and the amount of information they have on you. Regrettably, there are some significant trade-offs. Google's dominance isn't the result of some machiavellian scheme; it's just the consequence of them creating excellent products that work well together.