Our Dependency on Google

[Amphenomenon]

Hello everyone Merry Christmas to y`all, Google as really been helpful to us all, making everything easier and secure for us even to the extent of generating a secure password for us without even charging us anything (I guess this is how most internet users feels) but is this really the truth? are they really doing this for us freely?, Actually NO.

 They get more from us than what we do get from them and this is our data online but i get it most of us don`t really have anything to worry about here since we are just common people (to us) but to Google we are more than that i guess they value us more than we actually value ourselves.
 I recently took a digital marketing course were I discovered that Google makes most of their money from digital marketing here is some fact about Google

 I know digital marketing is not bad but here is how it may affect your privacy:
 

• data collection: Know one thing all your data online are being collected by Google for digital marketing which they use for personalisation of Ads as they claim, this include your browsing and search history, location and more. Infact the more you use Google product either Google map, gmail and others your data are being collected by them (i.e your data are collected from every of their product). Fun fact, even if you use Incognito tab or turn off anything about this data collection they will continue to collect them because they can't just do without your data.
  While There are somethings we usually do or search online which we may never want to see an ad relating to it but just the fact that we already searched for it Google may generate ads of such for us.
• Transparency: Gooogle is not as transparent as they claim and that is the reason they usually faces privacy data lawsuit and so we the users don`t actually know how much of our data are being stored with them even to data about our private health information, what they do with it and who they may share with.
• Data security: there is something that is not really common to hear which is from the fact that Google has face some severe data breaches like the 2014 Google password leaked of nearly about 5 million users, lawsuit for tracking private or Incognito browsing in 2020 and others
• Phishing scam: it is no longer a new thing in this forum about how many Google users has fallen victim of Malicious link from Ads from Google, which proves that they actually gives less attention to users security.

 
 I know most of us don`t really have much to worry about here since it looks like we don`t have much to protect online but our dependency on Google is just too much and its more like censorship because in a nutshell Google influences our activities online if we continue like this. We don`t literally need to stop using Google product and services but limit our dependency on them and this process is known as DEGOOGLE.
 some Alternative for Google product include:

• DuckDuckGO for search engine
•  Tor and Firefox as browsers
• Protonmail as email
• OsmAnd as Map
• MEGA as cloud storage

 There are other products that can be use for alternative for Google products, you just have to find the one that works for you better. Here is a link for a good ad blocker for Chrome and other browsers https://ublockorigin.com/
 Sources :How to DeGoogle Your Life: Why You Need to Take Control of Your Privacy

Other privacy and security guide :
  Privacy and ways to protection

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[Ambatman]

Despite their previous actions that shows how much they collect customers data
Sadly they still remain the most popular search engine.
I would go with Tor if one is aiming to be a ghost in the web
But it can be frustrating sometimes because of its poor speed.
Scammers are now using said Ads to rob and deceive users.
Brave browser doesn't produce any Ads not to mention having a Tor mode.
Firefox focus is one i usually use though, but there exist other that are way better than google and user friendly.

Any platform that provides personalized ads or programs like Facebook and TikTok have your data like an open book.
Lets be privacy and security cautious.

[sheenshane]

• Phishing scam: it is no longer a new thing in this forum about how many Google users has fallen victim of Malicious link from Ads from Google, which proves that they actually gives less attention to users security.

This might be their problem right now, they care about the profit from ads and don't filter scam ads that might harm their users.  
They only take action when they receive massive reports.

..generating a secure password for us without even charging us anything

I didn't do this personally.
I feel unsafe or not secure IMO.  You can create on your own instead.

Ain't against Google services and I tend to agree that it's beneficial to us.
People should be aware of the potential scams when they use this service and those guides that you've said are worth it to read.

[Amphenomenon]

Brave browser doesn't produce any Ads not to mention having a Tor mode.
Firefox focus is one i usually use though, but there exist other that are way better than google and user friendly.

Brave should have been among the most user friendly privacy inclined browser but there is an issue regarding their transparency Brave browser hijacking links and affiliate codes!.
Mozilla Firefox is actually a user friendly browser, open source and with the proper extension you will be having privacy cautious lifestyle with less websites restrictions

..generating a secure password for us without even charging us anything

I didn't do this personally.
I feel unsafe or not secure IMO.  You can create on your own instead.

Yes some of us may not be skeptical about that and may actually see it as secure and let's stressing and I have did use it before I joined the forum or actually started caring for my privacy, its just ignorance.
 

Ain't against Google services and I tend to agree that it's beneficial to us.
People should be aware of the potential scams when they use this service and those guides that you've said are worth it to read.

Google is beneficial to us but the more we depend on it the more we give them access to watch and store our activities online which is not really good but we can opt for privacy inclined products which are good for us or at least know what we are giving off to Google and sees if it worth it.

[Yogee]

I read about the lawsuit over their data gathering for incognito users a couple of days ago hehe.
I have Firefox as browser and DuckDuckGo as search engine for my daily internet. I've also added Ublock as extension. If only there's a better alternative for youtube then I would also ditch that completely. It also gets annoying that some of the ads on YT gets past Ublock.

[hd49728]

Google is big and dominate searching engine industry but there are alternatives.

The Best Private Web Search Engines in 2023
It shares some search engines but I don't like Brave.

Startpage: Dutch search engine company that highlights privacy
Brave Search: A completely independent index without tracking
MetaGer: Metasearch engine run by a non profit organization
Mojeek: Independent search engine which does not track you
DuckDuckGo: Privacy and avoiding the filter bubble of personalized results
Searx: Privacy-respecting metasearch engine

A very insightful comparative website for search engine comparisons.
https://searchengine.party/

[Husires]

Search engines are centralized and need central funding to improve search algorithms, so we are forced to use something central. There is no difference between Google and DuckDuckGO except in terms of privacy, where it is better to try to protect your data as much as possible.
DuckDuckGO claims to be all for freedom and privacy but their reputation has been severely damaged in recent years.
Using Tor involves knowing how to protect your data and Tor requires customizing settings to enhance privacy.

[Richbased]

OP I quite agree with you on privacy, though Google have been of some kind of assistance to it's users globally but I don't think it is wise for Google to gather most of our data like Gadgets, phones and computers that does automatic backups to Google and considering if the user have some sensitive information stored in his device and Google does an automatic backups so it's a kind of exposing ones privacy which is supposed to be known by only the user but notwithstanding that, Google have been of great help but there should be a reduction in the amount of data that they collect from it's users.

[lovesmayfamilis]

Do you really think it’s so easy to free yourself from Google by stopping using its services? Even if you stop using your browser and search engine, Google will still interfere in your personal life without telling you how or in what way. Advertising and publishing services still record all user activity. To get rid of surveillance, you just need to give up the Internet, or, as an alternative, show Google information that does not correspond to actual information about your identity. Create yourself a virtual hero, and do not combine him with the real one.

[_act_]

• DuckDuckGO for search engine
•  Tor and Firefox as browsers
• Protonmail as email
• OsmAnd as Map
• MEGA as cloud storage

Why not go for other open source mobile phone is like Calyx instead of Android. Also to avoid Android products.

https://itsfoss.com/open-source-alternatives-android/

For browser, Tor and Firefox are good, but Duckduckgo is also having a mobile browser whch is also good.

As for cloud storage, it is good to know not to store important information like your password and identity documents on storage. Because of that I still use google cloud but to store some things that are not password and documents.

[bitmover]

I made this post a while ago with dozens different kind of software that are privacy oriented

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3210982.0

Also, you can take a look at https//www.privacytools.io

[hd49728]

I made this post a while ago with dozens different kind of software that are privacy oriented

https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3210982.0

I did not know your thread, thank you for sharing it today.

Also, you can take a look at https//www.privacytools.io

I replied OP and directed OP to that website for privacy.

Another helpful website for privacy review is https://searchengine.party/

Privacy is not easy to achieve and we must have good tools and good practice too.

[Amphenomenon]

Do you really think it’s so easy to free yourself from Google by stopping using its services? Even if you stop using your browser and search engine, Google will still interfere in your personal life without telling you how or in what way. Advertising and publishing services still record all user activity. To get rid of surveillance, you just need to give up the Internet, or, as an alternative, show Google information that does not correspond to actual information about your identity. Create yourself a virtual hero, and do not combine him with the real one.

Nope it's not an easy task but it is still possible to entirely get rid of Google or reduce our Dependency on it but I don't really think one will be giving up the Internet or needs to create a virtual hero to overcome Google surveillance, is just user preferences, how well do we want to depend on Google after this all boils than to each users.

hd49728 and bitmover links are really helpful for this

[Zanab247]

 The Google founder knew that he cannot survive without google users in the world, that made them to admit for what happened for the lawsuit that made them to be straight forward to their customers so that they will not lose customers to other other companies. Despite google is not charging users money from using it to carry out their internet work but the data people are using everyday to make their projects a standard project that will attract more customers that will patroniz them to achieve their goal in the future has caused google to make a big money from users.

I started using Google right from secondary school days to learned so many things in the internet that made me to come across decentralized currency which I'm enjoying today to grow other business that is bringing profits to me to solve siblings school fees anytime.

[Samlucky O]

No matter what Google still serves as the best search engine and its like mtn or aitel they are everywhere you go. And it is been installed to every mobile device. Before you purchase a phone for usage it already there and before your phone start working properly you must need to update your Gmail using Google. So it is nearly impossible to do without Google. To me even if they have access to our mobile device, I think it hasn't been discovered that they have used any information of its costomers against them. And that is to say they have maintained there reputation for quit Al long time now. And because of that has made many people to rely on them.

There is no website that doesn't make money. Infact all of them are doing business and are looking towards making profit so even the ones listed by you will still make money. Sometimes people are aware of the expenses they do either directly or indirectly. But what matters to them is there safety, because sometimes looking for cheaper things always land us to problem.

Its just like telling someone to stop investing in Bitcoin because Bitcoin price is high and go for cheap shitcoin which might be od risk to you. So I don't disprove your fact but just an example.

[Youngkhngdiddy]

The Google founder knew that he cannot survive without google users in the world, that made them to admit for what happened for the lawsuit that made them to be straight forward to their customers so that they will not lose customers to other other companies. Despite google is not charging users money from using it to carry out their internet work but the data people are using everyday to make their projects a standard project that will attract more customers that will patroniz them to achieve their goal in the future has caused google to make a big money from users.

I started using Google right from secondary school days to learned so many things in the internet that made me to come across decentralized currency which I'm enjoying today to grow other business that is bringing profits to me to solve siblings school fees anytime.

   Google, a web browser was set up in such a way that catches the fancy of it's users. First off, one would think how informations were discovered before the advent of the web. Google's existence added ease to life in terms of information and knowledge quest. It's definitely certain that if for any reason the company crashes, it'll cause a whole lot of drastic changes to the world's settings.
    Majority of people are far already used to Google and its subsequent channels and have grown fond of it. One need not to worry on solutions to a few issues, knowing that the web would always save the day. Because the heads of the organization has seen it's usefulness, it then prompted them to open more areas of problem solving too and doesn't just settle for browsing. It's among the fastest growing tech innovation and for its existence since many years back, the confidence it's generated has been enormous.

[dkbit98]

some Alternative for Google product include:

Gsearch is total trash right now, but there are other working alternative and I would suggest visiting searchengine.party website.
Important thing to say that almost all android phones are connected to g00gle with each account, unless you are using degoogled phones.
It's irony that one of the best degoogled phones are Pixel phones that are made by g00gle, but with open source GrapheneOS this devices become much better.

There are other products that can be use for alternative for Google products, you just have to find the one that works for you better. Here is a link for a good ad blocker for Chrome and other browsers https://ublockorigin.com/
 Sources :How to DeGoogle Your Life: Why You Need to Take Control of Your Privacy

Note that uBlockOrigin extension wont work anymore with chrome because of upcoming browser changes, and they already prepared Lite version.
I would suggest everyone to make a switch to Firefox, Librewolf and Tor browser.