Never-Googlers: Web users take the ultimate step to guard their data
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Re: Never-Googlers: Web users take the ultimate step to guard their data
#2Well, of course. Just don't sign up for a Google account.
When you get an Android phone new, there's a moment when it asks you to sign up or sign in with a Google account. There's a "later" option". Click that, and then remove the Google one-time startup program. Install F-Droid, and get your apps from there.
The mail program on Android will talk to an IMAP server. Find one to use, and you don't need Gmail. No ads.
On desktop, use Firefox, LibraOffice, and Thunderbird. Install Privacy Badger from the EFF. Videos are uploaded to Vimeo. I have a cheap web site on HostGator if I need to upload anything for someone else to look at, and a Github account for code storage.
I've been doing this for years, and don't seem to be missing out on anything except ads.
Re: Never-Googlers: Web users take the ultimate step to guard their data
#3wow, i had no idea someone in what i assume is rural South Carolina is willing to undertake a pretty substantial convenience/time cost - drive 40 miles (and back?) to purchase directly - in order to better guard their privacy.
wonder if he also prefers cash? although this article is google-focused, not more generally on privacy which would presumably involve defeating credit card companies with cash.
i'm wondering what order of magnitude of people would do the same across the country. tens of thousands?
Re: Never-Googlers: Web users take the ultimate step to guard their data
#4(disclaimer: I work at a big tech firm, but I've had this opinion before working here)
I'm confused by the lengths people have gone through to "protect" themselves from internet giants while freely giving away their info to credit card companies, traditional retailers, small businesses. Credit card transaction data have been sold for years without most of us knowing about it. Small startups, boutique stores rarely have the security or data governance resources to ensure your data is stored and used properly. Data breaches are common even at large brick-and-mortar retailers.
Given the state of data security outside of big tech, my best option is to trust only big tech.
Re: Never-Googlers: Web users take the ultimate step to guard their data
#5Well, of course. Just don't sign up for a Google account. When you get an Android phone new, there's a moment when it asks you to sign up or sign in with a Google account. There's a "later" option". Click that, and then remove the Google one-time startup program. Install F-Droid, and get your apps from there. The mail program on Android will talk to an IMAP server. Find one to use, and you don't need Gmail. No ads. O…
In my experience, the difficulty is spending the time and energy to set these things up for family who might not be as willing to stray from the path of least resistance.
Re: Never-Googlers: Web users take the ultimate step to guard their data
#6Well, of course. Just don't sign up for a Google account. When you get an Android phone new, there's a moment when it asks you to sign up or sign in with a Google account. There's a "later" option". Click that, and then remove the Google one-time startup program. Install F-Droid, and get your apps from there. The mail program on Android will talk to an IMAP server. Find one to use, and you don't need Gmail. No ads. O…
Surely your phone is still repeatedly in touch with Google servers because you've got all that Google software on there. Just because you haven't signed in with a google account doesn't mean Google don't know who you are.
Re: Never-Googlers: Web users take the ultimate step to guard their data
#7Well, of course. Just don't sign up for a Google account. When you get an Android phone new, there's a moment when it asks you to sign up or sign in with a Google account. There's a "later" option". Click that, and then remove the Google one-time startup program. Install F-Droid, and get your apps from there. The mail program on Android will talk to an IMAP server. Find one to use, and you don't need Gmail. No ads. O…
Bonus work:
Make sure none of your friends upload a photo with you in it, which basically means they don't take your photo with an Android phone.
If somehow your picture does get onto an Android phone, somehow make sure you aren't labeled.
Re: Never-Googlers: Web users take the ultimate step to guard their data
#8Not to get off topic but there are still plenty of ecomm/mail order companies that'll take a phone order. I understand this guy's concern. I don't understand why he's driving (and likely being tracked along the way).
Re: Never-Googlers: Web users take the ultimate step to guard their data
#9(disclaimer: I work at a big tech firm, but I've had this opinion before working here) I'm confused by the lengths people have gone through to "protect" themselves from internet giants while freely giving away their info to credit card companies, traditional retailers, small businesses. Credit card transaction data have been sold for years without most of us knowing about it. Small startups, boutique stores rarely ha…
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Re: Never-Googlers: Web users take the ultimate step to guard their data
#10(disclaimer: I work at a big tech firm, but I've had this opinion before working here) I'm confused by the lengths people have gone through to "protect" themselves from internet giants while freely giving away their info to credit card companies, traditional retailers, small businesses. Credit card transaction data have been sold for years without most of us knowing about it. Small startups, boutique stores rarely ha…
I would point out that many organizations collect data, but tech companies are the most effective at abusing it. Their competence makes them by far, the most dangerous.