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submitted 4 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

I feel like #degoogle seems to embody a greater movement to leave bigtech. Here are the crazy things I've done over the last month or so.

  • Installed Arch on my laptop about a month ago
  • re-engaged my Mastodon and Bluesky while deleting Twitter and unfriending everyone on Facebook
  • Installed GrapheneOS on my Pixel
  • Moved email to custom domain and Tuta from Gmail
  • Moved to NextCloud in place of Google Drive
  • Moved photos from Google Photos to Ente Photos
  • Moved my PKM and Notes to Logseq
  • Moved from Chome and Google Search to Firefox, Tor and DuckDuckGo
  • Just deleted Reddit and started a Lemmy account.

It's been a ride and I'm open to other suggestions and guides.

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[-] [email protected] 18 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Congratulation! familiar list. The workload was quite surprising, wasn't it? How many google/gmail logins you had to change? Youtube to freetube? Or how you going with that?

To me META was quite hard to cut off because there is not really alternative to whatsapp. However META is probably the most toxic from those 5 so it felt best.

[-] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago

It was a lot of work. I had the benefit of having time off and recovering from spinal fusion to make this happen. I deleted many of my accounts that I used gmail for logins. My gmail address that people have had for years is now forwarding to my custom domain. For YouTube I've been using PeerTube and not using YouTube at all.

Meta is hard as I manage pages for work, but I currently have no friends which caused my wife to get messages from friends asking if we were getting divorced 🤣. I've brought my wife, sister and mom over to Signal so far by SMS is difficult to get people to change. I just cancled my Whatsapp account and if people want to connect they can reach out.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

The hardest part is to have your mail sent directly to your domain, skipping Google entirely. It’s such a painful process!

I started with a passive-aggressive strategy delaying replies to who still uses gmail: “apologies, I rarely use gmail these days…”

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

That's is a good idea!

[-] [email protected] 11 points 3 days ago

Also make sure to uninstall the Facebook app from your devices as well as any other Meta owned apps like Instagram. It was somewhat recently discovered they are using it as a backdoor to your web browsing history on any websites with Meta plugins, even when the browser isn't tracking you directly. Though GrapheneOS should prevent that communication between apps if you don't give the web browser extra permissions, better to be safe.

[-] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago

I've uninstalled all those apps!

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

I've #degoogled a lot, but Graphene is not an option. Waiting on a Harmony NextOS phone so I can dump Android altogether. I've seen some high end Huawei phones in my area sporting it, but am waiting for something I can afford from Xiaomi, OPPO or Vivo. I'd rather hand my data to the Chinese than Google and 5-Eyes.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

As someone considering a switch to Graphene (shopping for deals on 120hz pixel models as we speak) why is Graphene a non-starter for you?

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

I don't think I've ever actually seen a Pixel phone, plus they are way out of my price range. Where I reside, your choice is basically Chinese or Samsung.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Ah interesting. Mind if I ask where at? Where I'm located, you can find great deals on refurbished pixels (with a 1 year warranty!) on ebay for as little as 100USD.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Southeast Asia. For $100, I could buy a fairly hi-end used OPPO or Vivo, or for $200, a new Realme. I just checked for used Pixels (and new) on Lazada-Shoppee-LINE and there was nada. They never had a market here. If Asians are going to spend that kind of money on a phone, they'll buy an iPhone.

[-] [email protected] 6 points 3 days ago

Welcome! that's quite a list of changes and i am impressed how fast you're freeing yourself from shit platforms.

You hit a lot of good checklist items, well done.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

Anyone have good alternatives to Google Sheets? I don't even care about the social features. I gave LibreOffice Calc a shot and it was super frustrating. Seems like maybe CryptPad is my best bet as far as open source goes?

[-] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

The Excel-like thing that ships with a Synology NAS is really nice.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

I never really used sheets. I know standard notes has tables, but it's probably not nearly what you'd need. Cryptpad is intriguing, but the lack of mobile apps or apps in general is a hurdle for me.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

I'd use Firefox too... LibreOffice to get an office suite. DuckDuckGo is still feeding Google - sadly.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

What alternative would you suggest over DuckDuckGo? I'm always looking to learn more.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

There's plenty... Most of those I use is on this list... Remember that even DDG could be giving away private info, through fingerprints or other means... I use more search engines, to spread my risk.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

I like searxng, you can self hosted and its very private. It will pull all results from google, duckduckgo, bing, etc.

[-] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago

If you still use your Google account to synchronize your contacts and calendar, you can move them to Nextcloud too.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Great! All of these are great alternatives, but I would replace Firefox with librewolf.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

What would you use on Android?

[-] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Iron fox :D

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago
[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

Or run arkenfox settings tool on firefox

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

I second that you use Librewolf, which is a hardened fork of Firefox.

But beware of using any recent firefox, zen, and librewolf packages from the AUR. They supposedly contain malware.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

If you're in need of GPS for android auto, I recommend organic maps as an entirely offline and privacy respecting alternative to Google maps.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I've tried this one I got fined because it sent me through a road that was recently switched to "license holders only". Mostly my fault because I didn't see the sign but another time it tried to send me through roadworks and refused any alternatives. However great the idea of OpenStreetMaps is, community based maps are only as good if you have community members nearby.

I'll stick with Waze for navigation.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

comaps is the new community one

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Oh thanks for the tip. Trying it today.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

Apart from being a fork, why would I move to Comaps? I checked and Organic Maps was still being updated. I wouldn't mind moving given a reason, though I don't see the point yet

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

organic maps has taken steps to move toward privatization. here is the open letter by the CoMaps founders about why they stopped contributing to organic and started CoMaps

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

Thank you for explaining it and the source, I'm swapping over right now

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Awesome, how do yoi like the Graphene experience? I just switched from Samsung to a Pixel and installed Graphene as soon as I got it. Still getting used to things, and still using some Google services and apps. Have you found good replacements for things like Android Auto and RCS for text messages (not that I can get RCS working yet in any case)?

NextCloud and Ente look interesting, I need to check those out for Photos and Drive alternatives.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

I've been enjoying GrapheneOS. It's seems to fun well for me and the battery life seems to be great. I made a point to not use any Google apps so that means no RCS for me. My car doesn't have Android Auto so I'm not sure about a replacement.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

The battery life on GrapheneOS can be epic.

It stands out when my friends do a "How is everyone's phone battery?" check after a long day hiking, and I'm still above 30% while theirs are dead or dying.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Damn boi good on you. Welcome to the degoogled fam

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Thanks for sharing this list. Bookmarking for when I'll be doing the same.

[-] [email protected] 8 points 3 days ago

Congratulations. Only moving away from Google entirely took me 3+ years. You really killed this fast.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 days ago

I was at home recovering from lumber fusion so I had some free time on my hands b🤣

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

I would consider that incredibly fast if you are an ent, then.

I hope the surgery went well!

[-] [email protected] 4 points 4 days ago

what did you use for your 2fa codes? Most of mine are in google authenticator and I would likely need to migrate them first.

[-] [email protected] 13 points 3 days ago

Aegis is another option. I use vaultwarden for most OTP.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

+1 on Aegis, love it, it's FOSS and on F-droid. Can make auto backups/exports (encrypted/not), can register codes from a screenshot of a QR code (love that feature when I'm on my phone), it's a simple and clean design overall.

[-] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

I moved my extensive 2FA to Bitwarden Authenticator - I think I had to scan the migration QR codes from Google authenticator and recover the keys manually but it worked fine

[-] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

Most MFA codes I can store in freeotp+. Import/export function means I can back it up, too.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

I keep mine in 2FAS and Vaultwarden.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Same Here: 2FAS. If you are into coding, you can also write your own: there are lots of libraries to do the cryptography for you.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

I have found something yet, but I've heard ENTE Authenticator is pretty good.

this post was submitted on 20 Jul 2025
158 points (99.4% liked)

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