This article was originally published here.
As a follow up to 3 Ways to Protect and Secure your Online Identity, in which we ran through encrypted email, the use of a VPN, and Signal Private Messenger, here we offer some further ways you can remove the “Google Monster” from your life and support companies that aren’t so intent on tracking your every move!
Ariel Hochstadt reports…
Best Google alternatives that keep your privacy
It’s common knowledge that Google keeps track of all our activities.
And the more Google services we use, the easier it gets for them to map us.
From the Google search engine to Gmail, and from YouTube to Google Drive, there are many ways for Google to monitor our activity.
Google is so popular that many people don’t know how to NOT use their services. Our dependence on them tends to outweigh our concern for privacy.
To help you get rid of Google for good (or just to start using safer online services) we compiled a list of Google alternatives. The alternatives below are easy-to-use and feature rich, so you’ll get all the benefits of Google minus the tracking.
If you’re tired of the way Google tracks all of your moves, including your location and personal details, you may want to start using Google alternatives, like the ones below:
DuckDuckGo instead of Google Search
DuckDuckGo is a search engine that keeps your searches private. It comes with a complete set of features, including keyboard shortcuts and a simple interface that makes it super easy to use. Since it doesn’t collect any personal or identifiable information, your details will be safe, even if law enforcement agencies approach DuckDuckGo with a warrant. This search engine does not use cookies and clears the IP logs from its servers, so excuse us while we go bookmark this search engine.
ProtonMail instead of Gmail
Proton Mail is an encrypted and secure system that protects your privacy. With its simple inbox design, you’ll have no problem leaving Gmail and switching to ProtonMail for a lifetime. You can choose a free or paid version, but with both, you can be assured that your information is not at risk.
Vimeo instead of YouTube
If you want to create and upload videos, Vimeo is a popular alternative. YouTube tends to suggest a lot of fluff and irrelevant content, due to its large volume of videos. Vimeo, on the other hand, has less fluff, which means you’ll probably not find many 10-hour loop videos on Vimeo. And if you’re sick of YouTube’s ads, you’ll find that Vimeo is a refreshing option as it does not have 30-second unskippable ads.
Tizen instead of Android
iOS is the most popular alternative for Android, but it’s not free. If you want an open-source free operating system for your mobile device, consider Tizen, a Linux based operating system. It is compatible with several platforms and many applications can be adapted to run on it. Many users prefer Tizen for many Samsung devices.
Firefox instead of Google Chrome
Firefox is a simple and easy-to-use browser that is more customizable than Chrome. It has superior extensions and provides better privacy. Also, the password manager of Chrome is not secure, making Firefox a better choice for web surfing.
MapQuest instead of Google Maps
If you use Google Maps for directions, MapQuest is the best alternative. Not only does MapQuest give you driving directions, it also shows businesses on your way including hotels, gas, groceries, and pharmacies. It also allows satellite and standard views and lets you zoom in and out. And if you’re looking for points of interest, MapQuest will help you find them easily. You can even email or share the links to various positions on MapQuest.
WordPress instead of Blogger
When it comes to blogging, WordPress is far better than Blogger. It has a number of plugins and widgets, and the best part is that it is not run by Google. Since WordPress is open source, you can tweak the code to make changes to your blog. WordPress also offers better templates and other display options than Blogger.
DropBox instead of Google Drive
DropBox is really simple to use and lets you easily manage your files, folders, and sub-folders. It also allows you to share certain folders with others. Dropbox offers free storage of 2GB, which is enough for basic files. Should you need more, you can pay for extra storage.
Surviving without Google might seem difficult at first. However, with the help of alternative tools, it’s easy. And once you get used to the new software services, you won’t want to switch back to Google.
About The Author
Ariel Hochstadt, Formerly Gmail Marketing Manager globally for Google, and today web entrepreneur. Ariel is a successful international speaker and author of 3 published books on computers and internet. He is the co-founder of VpnMentor and an advocate of online privacy.
