this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2023

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leaving google (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

74 comments fedilink hide all child comments

By reading about the new inclementations on Google I decided to leave from Google services entirely, already stoping using Windows for 6 month and Chrome, but sttil dont sure about a gmail(Some important things are signed in gmail accont) and some services like Youtube and some android telemetry(already rooted)

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[–] [email protected] 48 points 1 year ago (2 children)

IMO switch away from services as fast as you're comfortable with - it's not all or nothing. Switch the easy ones now, and build escape plans for the rest. Small steppy is better than no steppy.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (6 children)

Totally agree with this. I started with Gmail and calendar and then gradually continued with Gdrive and Gphotos. My browser has always been Firefox, so no problem there. My next step is owning a Google-free phone (keeping an eye on https://tuxphones.com/). The only thing that I can not get rid of is Google Maps. It works so damn good!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

replaced it years ago with Organic Maps. The few things googleMaps does better are not worth the huge hole it digs in your privacy

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Awesome, thanks for the suggestion.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I originally had ambitions for a Linux phone but after all my waiting and reasearch it seemed to be too much of a hassle and no gain. After all, you can also have a degooglefied experience with a forked android like LineageOS or GrapheneOS. That's what I went with.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

True. I so much would like to have a pure Linux phone, but they are still not much ready. I do not understand why though. I think there is market for it and tons of Linux apps are already available.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (4 children)

What do you use for a GDrive alternative?

And for a better GMaps alternative, try OpenStreetMap

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I use a self-hosted Nextcloud server for Gdrive and Photos. Anyone who thinks going self-hosted is hard must watch 1 or 2 Docker videos and buy a minipc for a $150-$200. It is really not that hard. OpenStreetMap unfortunately is not even close what Maps can provide. I have not checked it for a long time though, maybe some drastic improvements have happened lately?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

On the other hand OpenStreetMap seems to provide things that Google Maps doesn't like a lot of paths and trails, including inclination & difficulty info.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yes, way more up to date for most thongs, and it doesn't clutter the map full of ads.

Google Maps has been good for street view, though. I only use it account free and in an isolated/VPN tab. 😂

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Didn't know this, thank you.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Well it's not hard (I have Linux experience), but I'm worried about the time investment to maintain and secure it myself. I'd rather pay someone else to do that for me...

I'm surprised you don't like OSM, in terms of the actual map it's much better for me than GMaps. The only thing I still use GMaps for is to see reviews of restaurants etc.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Now you made me curious :) I will definitely take a look at it. Thanks.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

No worries, if you also want to use it on your phone be sure to check out the OsmAnd or Organic Maps app.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Not who you were discussing with but i hope its ok to throw in my 2 centavos.

Traffic. Google has traffic.

On the other hand I was just at a place where Google maps was very wrong and OSM using organic maps, was accurate. The new roads went in 6 months ago, so it's not like it just happened.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Anyone who thinks going self-hosted is hard must watch 1 or 2 Docker videos and buy a minipc for a $150-$200. It is really not that hard.

I'm always amazed at how out of touch tech people are with how difficult this stuff is. People say shit like this all the time but when I try it, it most certainly is difficult, and continues to be difficult as time goes on and things stop working.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I'd agree with Google EARTH being without alternative, but so far I haven't really found any gmaps feature that OrganicMaps/OSM doesn't provide. Maybe I've never gotten full use out of gmaps?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

This 100%. It's also worth looking at https://www.privacyguides.org/en/basics/common-misconceptions/#complicated-is-better

Don't be obsessive about "degoogling" to the point where you pick worser alternatives that don't have the features you require. Always test something out before doing a mass migration of "all your email" for example.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago (2 children)

For email, I recommend purchasing your own domain name and finding a provider that allows the use own your own domain (like Proton or Tutanota). A catch-all function is also good for making unique addresses per service, so you're mostly protected from data leaks and spam. Like [email protected] or [email protected]

Will make switching email providers much easier when you don't have to update your address to tens or hundreds of services you've registered on.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Solid advice! And I’d also like to throw Fastmail as an email provider into the mix! I’m very happy with it and many other peeps I’ve heard from are happy as well. (I use it for mail, calendar and contacts.)

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Good advice! I would argue the only downside is having to maintain your own email server. But that comes with the territory I guess. Any low-cost server hosting to consider?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

You would not have to do that if you just use an email provider that allows custom domains. Probably will have to pay up though.

I've heard that self-hosting your own email server is almost always a bad idea as it can/will get blacklisted by sites.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

You'll still need email hosted by someone else, even if you are self hosting, in order to sign up to domain registrar etc.

It's very poor idea to use the same domain for contact from a registrar.

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Proton mail is free, encrypted, and their tools make the transition super easy.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I'm already paying for the full package, it's great.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I highly recommend Proton Mail. Their email phone app and webapp are very good and they seem to be branching out into other services like calender integration and VPN. I've been working on reducing my reliance on Google services for awhile, but it has been very slow with how many accounts I've registered using my Gmail over the years.

The only problem I've had with Proton Mail is that the free tier on the phone doesn't let you have two emails logged in at once. Normally I would want my real identity email and my internet identity email to be logged in at the same time. Which is doable in the webapp at least. I may end up paying the $3 a month not just to unlock this feature, but to support a non-Google service in general.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The only problem I've had with Proton Mail is that the free tier on the phone doesn't let you have two emails logged in at once.

If you're on Android, you can download Shelter from F Droid. This creates a work profile on your device, then you can clone any app to get a second login. I have several apps that I have separate simultaneous logins.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I like this idea. I'll give it a try. Thanks.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I love Proton Mail, been using it for over a year now and it's been great. Phone app and web app work great, has all the features I need.

Their proton VPN has been really good too. A lot of people complain about it on Linux and Android, but I personally haven't had any issues at all on either platform.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Here is how I done it:

Email, drive - Proton (+vpn)

Youtube: (NewPipe/Libretube)

Phone OS: CalyxOS/GraphineOS

Maps:Organic Maps (powered by OSM).

All of these are open source.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'd add to this "GMaps WV" (Google maps web view wrapper). It's available on FDroid and wraps the web version of google maps. I use it to find locations and GPS coordinates and then navigate to them in OSM bc OSM based applications are poor and doing so.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You might be interested in the /c/[email protected] community! https://lemmy.ml/c/[email protected]

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

[email protected]

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I recommend you using a VPS. You will be able to make your own email server, xmpp server, nextcloud (whic is better than google drive), and a lot of apps would make your data more secure(such as searx, libreddit). and you can host these under 10 minutes using yunohost.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yunohost is awesome

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