DeGoogle Yourself

12514 readers
24 users here now

A community for those that would like to get away from Google.

Here you may post anything related to DeGoogling, why we should do it or good software alternatives!

Rules

  1. Be respectful even in disagreement

  2. No advertising unless it is very relevent and justified. Do not do this excessively.

  3. No low value posts / memes. We or you need to learn, or discuss something.

Related communities

!privacyguides@lemmy.one !privacy@lemmy.ml !privatelife@lemmy.ml !linuxphones@lemmy.ml !fossdroid@social.fossware.space !fdroid@lemmy.ml

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
1
 
 

Hi, all.

We've grown considerably since rebuilding the sub (see https://lemmy.ml/post/2262830). Active monthly users 150 -> 380. 3.5k -> 5.42k subs. It seems to be growing organically now, and the higher we go, the more people will stumble across it. There is always a need to get away from Google, and hopefully our community can help people with this.

If you'd like to join us to help moderate so we have folk in place as we need them, that would be awesome.

If you are interested. Please send a message about why you think you'd be good for the role, and also an example post/comment in this community previously.

Thanks,

CrypticCoffee

2
22
submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by CrypticCoffee@lemmy.ml to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
 
 

Here I will pin a list of recommendations for software. Getting started can be daunting, and it'd be great to pull that information together here for newcomers so they can take practical steps to degoogle their lives.

Disclaimer: These are recommendations by regulars here and on privacy forums. Use at own risk. We cannot due diligence on these, so if people do have issue with items in the list, please create a post and raise your concerns.

Recommendations

Browser -

  • Firefox (Strongly recommend in light of WEI and Google's plan that could potentially restrict access to websites)
  • Librewolf
  • Brave (Not recommended, due to Google's WEI changes. Using chromium is a bad idea. I left this in case you really must)

Search

  • Duck Duck Go
  • Brave

Email

  • Proton mail
  • Tutanota

Cloud storage

  • Proton mail

Productivity Suite (Alternative to google docs)

  • Libre office (Maybe not cloud based)
  • Only office (for MS doc compatibility)

Degoogled Android phones

Phone OS - https://lemm.ee/post/663113

  • GrapheneOS

  • LineageOS (wihh or without MicroG)

  • /e/OS

Android app store -

  • F-droid

Messaging

  • Signal

  • Element (Matrix)

Maps - https://lemmy.ml/post/2211048

  • Organic Maps

  • OsmAnd+

SMS - https://lemmy.ml/post/2256135

Organisation

Task lists - https://lemmy.ml/post/2249613

Calendar - https://lemm.ee/post/704703

Discussion

These items are ones either recommended multiple times or seem to have some form of consensus on them being good and privacy focussed. I will link discussion topics so people can see the logic and reasoning behind recommendation. If you are not happy with anything here, please discuss here: https://lemmy.ml/post/2262409

If you would like another item in this, please create a post discussion and we can pull it in and link to it.

3
 
 

Google Contacts, like most of their products, keeps changing and getting worse. Somewhere along the way it deleted all of the street address information from my contacts!

Ideally looking for a tool that checks these boxes:

  • Open-source
  • Android, Web, and (if necessary) Linux and Windows clients
  • Stores contact info locally (i.e. self-hosted)
  • Stores contact info securely (encrypted)
  • Can store in a cloud location (e.g. Sync, Dropbox)

It seems like a tall order, but KeePass has managed to do that with their password vault, so why not contact info?

Any success stories out there?

4
11
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) by dudesss@lemmy.ca to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
 
 

Will Graphene OS, Lineage OS, or some other operating system install on a Lenovo Tablet?

Edit: Its a Lenovo P11 Tab Pro Gen 2

5
6
7
123
submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by Novocirab@feddit.org to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
 
 

FreeTube is an open-source standalone YouTube client that gives you control over what to see and what not to see on YouTube. Among my my favourite features are:

  • No Ads
  • Checkboxes to eliminate common distractions, e.g. Shorts, Trends, Live chat, Recommendations, Comments
  • Word filters and channel filters
  • Integrated SponsorBlock and DeArrow
  • History and subscriptions are saved locally, away from Google's prying eyes
  • Easy download of videos, e.g. for securing videos or re-uploading them to a PeerTube instance (of course, only if it's legal in your jurisdiction)

If you're a parent, know that FreeTube also has several child safety features.

8
 
 

I have failed, it seems that I depend a little on Google, as I use Telegram and no client has good support for UnifiedPush is a little complicated with the issue of notifications...

Yes it disturbs me in how Google handles my data, but I would like to give priority to the battery, I heard that removing some permissions from Google services improves a little battery consumption, How true is this? And can I remove them all?

I also checked with the AppManager app that it has some trackers and components, does anyone know if it is possible to turn them off without completely messing it up?

For convenience I will continue using Aurora Store, I hate the automatic installation and update of apps

9
199
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by FoolHen@lemmy.world to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
 
 

I don't particularly watch/like PewDiePie, but he is joining the train and spreading the word, which is awesome. He is self hosting services and using GrapheneOS now.

10
 
 

That I can import my Google keep data Thanks for help :)

11
 
 

Hey, i was wondering if anybody had any advice on a replacement sms app abd keyboard app. I plan on fully deleting my gmail account and have removed or replaced all my apps that require play store connection with the acceptions of textra and Swiftkey

For a sms my biggest requirements are an app that wont auto delete text history and can send large gifs. I tried quik sms yesterday but it woukdnt send larger gifs

For a keyboard i was hoping fot something similar to swift key in customizability and layout. Ideally with gif search but if its purely offline thats fine. A way to store personal dictionary would be needed too.

Thanks in advance

12
13
 
 

What is the best degoogled tablet for an artist

what is the best tablet for iodeOS, GrapheneOS and LineageOS

  • with smooth stylus support that is as good as apple pen
    • palm rejection
    • pressure sensitive stylus
    • works well for krita / excalidraw / xournalapp
    • latency
  • at least 16GB RAM and 256GB storage

For iodeOS, it doesn't seem to support any tablet device officially


For GrapheneOS, the only choice is google pixel tablet (or maybe pixel fold). However


For LineageOS

  • What tablet+stylus+LineageOS has the best performance?
  • What tablet+stylus+LineageOS has the best balance between price and performance?
  • Can someone share their stylus experience on krita / excalidraw / xournalapp?

Sincere thanks

EDIT:

  • ipad
    • I realize my title is confusing, when I say degoogle I really meant completely Open Source and private.
    • ipad with network disabled?
      • not feasible in my use case
      • apple backdoor is highly likely in my opnion
      • Of course I don't have any proof, but I would assume it runs camera and microphone without us knowing even when the network is disabled. The data is collected and processed locally and send to apple server when network is enabled
        • speech recognition is integrated in many app and sold to advertiser
        • I doubt apple could resist the temptation of money and the threat from government not to activate microphone and camera without us knowing
    • apple is as disgusting as google
  • but of course if this is the only choice ...
14
76
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by Verax@lemmy.world to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
 
 

Phone - Pixel 9 Pro

Browser - Firefox

Search Engine - Ecosia

Keep Notes - Joplin

Tasks - Tasks.org

Password manager - Bitwarden

2FA - Aegis

Email - Posteo.de 12€ pro Jahr mit Thunderbird

Google Photos and Drive - Jottacloud Home / 70€ per Year for 1TB and 5 Users (family photos videos and documents) - awesome

Wetter - Breezy Weather

Google Photos - Aves Libre & Image toolbox

Google Play Store - Aurora Store & Droidify

Google Play Services - micro G

VPN - Mullvad VPN 5€ a month (only paid when needed) are there free good alternatives?

Google Clock - Clock App Form Droidify (Chrono from Droidify but its Bugged for now)

Gboard - Futoboard (seems finally working correctly) and Futo Voice

Phone - Fossify

Contacts - Fossify

SMS - Fossify

Google File Manager - Material Files

Shazam - Audile

Google Translate - DeepL

Quick Share - Local Send

Social - Eternity for Lemmy / Moshidon for Mastodon / Pixelix for Pixelfed / Discord

AdBlock DNS -....

Scanner - OSS Documentscanner

Docs - FreeOffice / Office NX

Google Kamera - ProShot 9€ Onetime payment

YouTube - Revanced YouTube (tried out Libretube and others but I need video watch sync between TV (SmartTube) and phone)

Yt Music - Metrolist and testing others

GMaps - Magic Earth

Google Calendar - Timetree or Fossify

Audible - Smart Audiobook and DRM free Audiobooks

Calculator - Fossify

Podcasts - Antennapod

Soundcore App for Music devices

Using the Soundcore Aeroclip. (Awesome fit and security)

Searching alternatives for Kindle. PayPal alternative that can be used everywhere. Gemini Assistant, Circle to search or Lens alternatives. No selfhosting for now.

15
16
 
 

EDIT: I decided on Mailbox.org!

Cross-posted from "Looking for a good e-mail provider that's not Tuta/Proton" by @Yingwu@lemmy.dbzer0.com in !privacy@lemmy.dbzer0.com


I'd like to use a third-party client like Thunderbird to handle my e-mails, which rules out both Tuta and Proton (I know Proton has their bridge, but I don't want to rely on it). I'm willing to compromise on my e-mails not being encrypted, as long as the e-mail provider has a reputation of caring about the customer's privacy. If I truly want to encrypt a message, I'll encrypt it myself. I've been looking at Mailbox.org, and while I've been hearing good things, people have also been complaining about their lack of support, outdated interface as well as that they don't enforce DKIM/DMARC which enables spoofing.

I would like to be able to use my own custom domain, but also to use their own domain for my e-mail aliases. EU-based only.

Any thoughts?

17
 
 

I have an aging (2 years old now) flagship smartphone and basically want a camera that's as decent as the one I already have, but without Google servers getting pinged every time I'm traveling and want to remember where I am - apparently my phone GPS isn't enough, Google Play Services insist they must get involved.

Some ideal requirements would include:

  • ~3x zoom
  • Solid macro photography
  • Optical image stabilization
  • Functional in low light
  • A sensor at least the same size as my phone's (1/1.3")
  • Small enough to fit in some pocket
  • GPS tagging
  • A sub-$800 price tag?

I understand this is a huge ask, and that modern cell phones have a pocket dimension that somehow fits this hardware inside of them, but I figured I may as well check.

18
 
 

I don't like the default GrapheneOS apps, looking to switch.

19
 
 

Does Iphone have something like fdroid that allows installation of cool apps like ones for jellyfin, etc?

20
 
 

Hi folks, Planning on moving back to android after five years due to wanting better privacy and foss apps. I’ve been curious about folks experiences with pixel phones and grapheneOS on them while maintaining a distance from google services. Has there been better experiences with the pixel 9 or have they been the same with the 8? Would the 8 be more worthwhile because both have the years support ahead of them with just the one year of difference?

I do have some apps I rely on that I know coming over will be a shift but I can get over. This includes signal, Lemmy, YouTube, Ente Auth, banking apps, plex. Those I think will be easy.

21
 
 

This is seriously dumb, but here we are. If that's true, I will happily delete it.

22
305
Free at last! (europe.pub)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by simop_jo@lemmy.world to c/degoogle@lemmy.ml
 
 

I finally feel free and in control of my data!

23
 
 

This was slowly driving me insane over the past few weeks and there were no results when searching for it, so I'll post it here for posterity.

I have a work profile set up through Shelter on one of my phones. Several weeks ago, I started noticing that a few times each week, I would be prompted for my PIN when trying to open a work app while the work profile was deactivated. Not once, but twice, once to activate the profile, and a second time to open the app itself. I checked every relevant setting I could think of, including "Use one lock" for work profile and device screen, and all the PIN prompts said were "For added security, enter your device PIN" with no further explanation.

Today, I snapped, stormed into the security settings, and disabled my device's PIN entirely. I think the resulting catharsis let me finally think straight and realize in the next two minutes why. Sometimes, I'll turn off the work profile. Sometimes, I'll unlock with my fingerprint instead of my PIN. The two coincide a few times each week.

The PIN can unlock both the personal and work profiles. But the fingerprint only unlocks the personal profile. So if I unlock with only my fingerprint, when it comes time to unlock the work profile, it isn't "sufficiently unlocked" and I need to enter the PIN. Why at the end of this process I still need to enter it again to open the app itself is beyond me.

TL;DR: Unlocking your phone with the PIN unlocks both personal and work profiles. The fingerprint only unlocks the personal profile.

24
 
 

Hey.

My phone is a Pixel 8A Graphene OS Phone. I Want to make this phone a Hardended phone. A safe phone. Privacy friendly phone. Not a Watched or tapped into phone. Basically limit the spying and intercepting and get control of the spying mechanisms that may be at play.

The phone has Sandboxed google.play services.

(grapheneos) and 1 profile (owner)

The phone has a kyc sim card. ( currently no way out)

Thanks.

25
 
 

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/31250679

"this morning, as I was finishing up work on a video about a new mini Pi cluster, I got a cheerful email from YouTube saying my video on LibreELEC on the Pi 5 was removed because it promoted:

Dangerous or Harmful Content Content that describes how to get unauthorized or free access to audio or audiovisual content, software, subscription services, or games that usually require payment isn't allowed on YouTube.

I never described any of that stuff, only how to self-host your own media library.

This wasn't my first rodeo—in October last year, I got a strike for showing people how to install Jellyfin!

In that case, I was happy to see my appeal granted within an hour of the strike being placed on the channel. (Nevermind the fact the video had been live for over two years at that point, with nary a problem!)

So I thought, this case will be similar:

  • The video's been up for over a year, without issue
  • The video's had over half a million views
  • The video doesn't promote or highlight any tools used to circumvent copyright, get around paid subscriptions, or reproduce any content illegally

Slam-dunk, right? Well, not according to whomever reviewed my appeal. Apparently self-hosted open source media library management is harmful.

Who knew open source software could be so subversive?"

view more: next ›