How to Move on from Google?
Anyone got a resource for how to move off Google into using another browser, even if passwords etc are all saved in Google? I've been wanting to make the transition, but not even sure where to start. I've experimented with Brave, but Google has become so integrated I to everything I do (tis the plan, I know), that I'm just not sure how to pull it off. Any ideas?
Using Firefox here since nearly forever, save for a short time with Chrome many years ago, and have never been happier. As for services, YMMV, but Fastmail, DuckDuckGo, Startpage, are widely considered good alternatives for email and search.
Other more specific services might be harder to swap with others, but it all depends on which services and how they're used.
I'm writing a series of articles about my personal experience, publishing [let's call it] drafts on LinkedIn for the limited audience, to catch small mistakes. I don't know if it's available without a LinkedIn account, you can try. I'm working on a blog at the moment to publish it.
The Easy Way to Quit Google
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/easy-way-quit-google-part-1-y...
Almost all browsers will import everything from other browsers. Believe it or not, it's the easiest thing to leave. Gmail is the hardest, and will take a lot of time and effort, but it's well worth it: Alternatives are outright vastly superior.
The biggest obstacle that I see is the fact that there is no single provider/company that offers all of the services that Google has.
Would you replace Google with MS or Apple? Those two are the only ones that have the whole set of services that can be compared to Google.
It is easy to find replacement for each of them, but integration... That is a whole another story. There is a bunch of different password managers, cloud storage providers, search services. Based on the reasons why you want to ditch Google you can choose the providers that you like, e.g. for mail you could go to Proton or GMX, search Duck Duck Go,...
Passwords specifically are easy there’s a built in import/export in every modern browser. This takes a few minutes of searching.
Probably the easiest “big bang” way to wean yourself off of Google would be to outfit yourself in Apple kit. Apple has this whole ecosystem that’s parallel to Google they even went to pains to get their own mapping software going.
If your goal is to get away from big tech in general you’ve got a long road ahead of you.
I use Firefox for almost all my browsing and software development. Just do it.
use a password manager, not your browser, to manage passwords, something like bitwarden or lastpass.
You can use a browser like ungoogled chromium.
I really appreciate all the comments and suggestions. I'm writing up a little recap to catalogue what I'm seeing here, so that's why I'm a little silent in the comments. But, keep sending in your ideas, and I'll do my best to draw up a little overview and put it in the comments. Also, trying to keep up so I can upvote you all.
I am really happy with zoho the mail hosting is good and exchange compatible, cheap. They have a good online office suite, note taking application and gdrive alternative.
You can’t. Half the web uses Google for capcha. You need to have a Google account or you will get c as capcha to death
KeepassXC, Firefox, DuckDuckGo, Fastmail, and open street maps.
On macOS, strongbox is an alternative to keepassXC, and safari + apple keychain.
search.brave.com seems to be going pretty well results wise. For cloud storage, synology is a plug and play NAS for self hosted cloud that doesn't require port forwarding. Highly Recommended.