this post was submitted on 21 Apr 2025
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DeGoogle Yourself

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A process that started roughly a year ago with just changing browser and search engine, now feeling that I got somewhere. The journey ended up being more than just degoogle, but also demetaing and taking more control over my data and privacy.

Before and after picture with notes:

Chrome -> Zen browser (Firefox on iOS)

Google -> Qwant

Gmail -> Proton Mail

NordVPN -> Proton VPN (I don’t use VPN very often, but have NordVPN through another subscription, now replaced with Proton across my devices)

Google Drive / Photos -> Proton Drive

Google Password Manager -> Proton Pass

Google Authenticator -> Proton Pass / Ente (Ente Auth is only used to store my 2FA keys for the Proton account, other keys are stored in Proton Pass)

Google Translator -> DeepL

YouTube -> FreeTube (Unwatched on iOS)

Google Maps -> Magic Earth (OSM on desktop)

WhatsApp -> Signal

Notion -> Anytype

Keep / Notes -> Notesnook

X -> Mastodon / Bluesky

Reddit -> Lemmy (Voyager on iOS, dreaming of an eventual complete migration)

Instagram -> Pixelfed

Facebook -> stopped using

Windows 11 -> Ubuntu (Only personal laptop, work laptop still windows)

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[–] coldaf@lemmy.world 20 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I recommed Pixel phones with GrapheneOS or any Lineage OS supporting device. Linux phones are good but I dont personally think they are reliable as smartphone.

[–] HotCoffee@lemm.ee 15 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Maybe not, but buying them will improve future Linux phones.

Buying a google phone just feels dirty, all this talk about privacy and foss but then still filling Google's pocket is something we need to move away from as privacy/foss enthusiasts.

[–] coldaf@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Actually, you are right. But IMO, only donating is better for Linux phones. Sailfish OS from Jolla has some problems according to people bought the phone. And other companies are not enough now. Its better not to use smartphone nowadays.

[–] HotCoffee@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'd wish, but I my country u have official goverment ID apps that you need for taxes and stuff. Banking, work and school all often require phones. Not using a smartphone is just not feasible for many people, so might as well encourage alt phones like Linux

[–] coldaf@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

In Türkiye, we have same things too. My solution is to have a phone ONLY for that actions. No any other apps. Happy with it.

[–] SouthEndSunset@lemm.ee 2 points 1 day ago

Yeh, I’ve got a second hand iPhone at the minute, but swapping shitty big tech for shitty big tech feels stupid.

[–] joelvdc@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Yeah, Linux phones might not be ready yet and it will mean compromises and workarounds. Will be following closely the development of not Google not Apple phones, before pulling the trigger.

[–] ratzki@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Apart from GrapheneOS, all other android ROMs are less degoogled than you think, as confirmed by many security researchers. For less techy people the order to degoogle is:

  1. iOS as OP did
  2. android with Universal debloater (likely still contains more google than iOS, as LineageOS, e/OS etc.)
  3. GrapheneOS on Pixel hardware
[–] coldaf@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

Yes, Custom ROMs as OOTB may not be enough. But with root privileges, hardening and debloating solutions, it can be better than iPhones and other options. iPhone will be less “Googled” because it is not Google's product, but Android is a Google product. So it is possible to label Android as completely “Googled”. However, if we talk about privacy concerns, there are Google services within Android that we can categorize as core and malicious. We can remove the harmful ones as needed, but the iPhone remains a privacy nightmare no matter how few Google products it has. I don't think the only criterion that defines a secure and private phone is how deGoogled it is. My personal decision is to use any free custom ROM with hardening and debloating.