Its freakishly flexible and. It comes with a bunch of clever features built-in. Personally identifiable information (PII): What it is, how it's used, and how to protect itIts a browser. The latest browser of the tech giant Microsoft, of course, Microsoft Edge that can also be a good alternative to Chrome if you use Windows 10.Huawei P40 Pro: Android phone without Google? No problem!Google, like Facebook, has a business model that's built on surveillance. It's the same one I hear from friends, family members, and readers every time the topic turns to smartphone platforms: "Aren't you worried about your privacy when you run Google's software?"It's a legitimate question, and there's no easy answer. Cyber security 101: Protect your privacy from hackers, spies, and the governmentBut every time I pick up one of those Android devices, a nagging question pops up in the back of my mind. Data privacy and data security are not the same There's not much you can do about the profile that Google and its subsidiary DoubleClick (and the advertising ecosystem that's grown up around them) create based on those activities in real time.Going through Google's default privacy controls is an exhausting task.We won't even talk about the antitrust investigations in the United States, where Google is reportedly "in serious trouble," and another antitrust probe in the European Union, which has already fined Google multiple times for anticompetitive behavior.Unlike the other giant of online advertising, Facebook, the option to delete your Google account isn't very practical. And even if you meticulously delete your activity history. They also count on most people being too busy, distracted, or unconcerned to actually use those controls. Roughly 84% of that revenue, about $134.8 billion, came directly from the advertising platform made possible by data collected from a few billion people, including you and me.To be fair, Google provides ample privacy controls, including options to delete saved data. That information is the base layer of some undeniably useful services, which in turn fuel the advertising that makes up the overwhelming majority of Google's revenue.In 2019, Google took in just under $162 billion in revenue.Say adios to AndroidThere are two and only two mobile device platforms that matter: Android and iOS. Note that some of these options require paid subscriptions, in contrast to Google's ad- and data-supported services. When your revenue comes mostly from high-margin hardware (in Apple's case) and business-focused productivity services (in Microsoft's case), it's easier to place greater value on personal privacy, and there's less incentive to design products and services that explicitly turn data into revenue.So how do you reduce the role of Google in your tech life? I took a look at my own experience to see where you'll find the most interesting alternatives. Those two tech giants have the requisite scale, but their business models don't rely disproportionately on data collection and advertising.
![]() The iPhone 6S, for example, which debuted more than four years ago, runs the brand-new iOS 13 and will be supported for another year. That support lasts a long time, too. You get world class hardware, and you also avoid one of Android's worst flaws: unpredictable updates.Apple devices get fully supported updates for years, and you are not at the mercy of a carrier to get the latest version. And although you can tweak and tune privacy settings and replace default apps, you can't easily get rid of the Google Play services and store.Switching to an iPhone isn't exactly painful (except perhaps for the pricetag). Because of the way Google licenses Android, it's almost impossible to find a device that isn't loaded with Google services. The logical alternatives are Mozilla Firefox and Opera on MacOS and iOS, you can also choose Safari.Several people in the comments section have recommended the Brave browser, a relatively recent addition to the category, led by Mozilla co-founder Brendan Eich and focused relentlessly on privacy. OTOH: 11 things my Android phone does way better than your iPhoneIf your objective is to cut ties with Google, you'll need to choose a different web browser than Google Chrome, naturally. A pair of snafus involving biometric technology in late 2019, on the latest premium devices from Samsung and Google, make me even more comfortable with switching platforms. I have no idea if or when those two phones running out-of-date Android versions will get the latest features.And I have to say I trust Apple's biometric support more than I trust the same features on Android devices. All three devices were released in 2018, but each one is running a different Android version (8, 9, and 10). I have three Android phones on my desk right now, from Motorola, Samsung, and Google. Alternative To Google Browser Install Extensions DirectlyIn its just-concluded 2019 fiscal year, Microsoft brought in more than $7.6 billion in revenue from search advertising. Google: This browser war isn't about privacyThe Bing brand is an easy punchline for anyone trying to get some cheap tech-oriented laughs, but the underlying data is no joke. It allows you to install extensions directly from the Chrome Web Store, and pages you visit look like they're running in Chrome. On this browser, the number-one source of trackers is Google, which accounts for more than 20% of the blocks on my production PC.After a lengthy beta test cycle, the new Edge browser was officially released in January 2020 in addition to running on Windows, it also runs on MacOS and has versions for iOS and Android. (I do not recommend the legacy Edge browser, available only in Windows 10, which is deprecated and will be replaced with the new Edge within a year.)The most relevant feature is tracking protection, which offers this simple but easy-to-understand interface in the new Edge Settings pane on the desktop.This Edge setting blocks trackers without requiring third-party software.How effective is it? Click that Blocked Trackers link to see a running count. 10 dangerous app vulnerabilities to watch out for (free PDF)The dark horse in this field is Microsoft's new cross-platform Edge browser, based on the open-source Chromium engine. Not having to reconfigure 2FA when you switch to a new device is liberating.I can't find a free alternative to Google Voice that I can comfortably recommend, but the venerable Line2 service, at $10 per month (or $99 a year, billed annually) fills the bill. That makes SIM-swapping scams dramatically less effective.Google Voice also runs on multiple devices, which is handy for someone who switches devices regularly. That means you can use a virtual number other than your regular mobile phone number for security-related tasks, like two-factor authentication. One plausible theory I've heard is that Google Voice is so widely used by Google execs that discontinuing it is not an option.Google Voice has the twin benefits of being device-independent and supporting SMS messages. Replace Google VoiceI've always been reluctant to use Google Voice for any serious business-related purpose, because it seemed like yet another free service that Google would eventually kill off. The privacy-focused DuckDuckGo ("the search engine that doesn't track you") returns results using Microsoft's data along with a few hundred other primary sources,For desktop use, you can also get the DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials extension for Chrome (which works in the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge as well).In the comments, several readers have recommended Startpage.com, a Dutch company that uses Google search results repackaged in a privacy-focused format that eliminates tracking. DuckDuckGo it.)Back in 2017, Google stopped its controversial practice of scanning the content of free Gmail accounts for the purpose of targeting ads, and the company says any processing it does of message content (to generate reply suggestions, for example) is done by machines. In retrospect, we should have gotten a clue that something was amiss when the Gmail beta launched, officially, on April Fool's Day, 2004. Use something other than Gmail as your default email clientI'm old enough to remember when Gmail was a closed beta and you had to have an invitation to get your own account. I've used it for several years and recommend it. Other details of the service are unchanged.)The main reason I don't use Gmail, though, has nothing to do with privacy.
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