De-Googling Your Life: Alternatives to Google's Services

Google's pervasive tracking can be mitigated by using alternative password managers, cloud storage, and navigation apps.

### De-Googling Your Life: Alternatives to Google Services
* 👁️  Google is under scrutiny for privacy violations, including a lawsuit for tracking users in incognito mode, but they continue **profiting from targeted ads** despite potential fines.
* 🔒  In the first part of this series, options to **reduce reliance on Google** were discussed, and this installment focuses on alternatives for **password management, cloud storage, maps, ad management, and YouTube**.
* 🔑  Google's built-in password manager poses risks; if your Google account is compromised, **all stored passwords could be exposed**.
* 🛡️  Alternatives like Bitwarden and KeePass offer secure password management, with Bitwarden allowing for **syncing across devices** and **enhanced privacy features**.
* 🌐  For cloud storage, services like Dropbox, OneDrive, and Proton Drive provide **encrypted options**, while self-hosted solutions like Nextcloud and OwnCloud offer **greater control**.
* 🗺️  Alternatives to Google Maps include **OpenStreetMap** and **Magic Earth**, which provide navigation without the **data tracking** associated with Google.
* 🎥  For YouTube, apps like FreeTube and NewPipe allow users to access content without ads or trackers, and **importing subscriptions from Google Takeout** is a straightforward process.
* 💼  The video concludes by inviting viewers to **share their preferred alternatives** and discussing the sponsor Flexispot, which offers **ergonomic workspace solutions**.

De-Google Your Life - Part 2: Ad-Free YouTube!

Linus Tech Tips is a passionate team of "professionally curious" experts in consumer technology and video production who aim to educate and entertain.


Linus Tech Tips

De-Googling Your Life: Alternatives for Password Management and More

Google's data tracking, even in incognito mode, has led to lawsuits, but the company continues to profit from serving relevant ads.

The series offers alternatives to Google's services, including password management, cloud storage, maps, ad management, and YouTube.

For password management, hosting your own with Keypass or Bitwarden is recommended, while OnePassword offers a unique security twist with a random secret code for vault access.

Improving Online Privacy with Password Managers

Proton offers a robust password manager with features like burner emails, two-factor support, and the ability to lock the vault with a different password.

The process of transitioning from an old password manager involves exporting passwords and importing them into the new one.

Using a separate two-factor authentication app, like Ente Off, is recommended for added security.

Transitioning from Google Services: A Guide

The app offers basic search and has a phone number-based account login, which can lead to lockouts if the number changes.

Adding codes for two-factor authentication is similar across apps, and account recovery takes a few days if locked out.

Migrating from Google Authenticator involves exporting codes as QR codes and using another device to import them, while alternative mapping services like OpenStreetMap and Magic Earth offer user-driven maps and additional features.

Exploring Alternatives to Google Services

Driver assistance features are available for free, offering warnings for various driving situations, but may have odd behaviors.

O provides similar features to Magic Earth, with additional plugins for enhanced functionality, but has a unique address formatting that may be inconvenient for users.

For cloud storage, Google Drive is common and convenient, but there are other options like Dropbox, iCloud Drive, OneDrive, and Proton Drive, each offering encrypted storage and unique features for data security.

Alternatives to Traditional Cloud Storage

Proton Drive offers multiple terabytes of storage with an annual subscription, providing a Google-like experience.

Oncloud and Nextcloud provide more control over file sharing and storage, with Oncloud focused on professional settings and Nextcloud catering to home users.

The Swiss Post Services' Treaser offers strong privacy and security, with end-to-end encryption and email verification for file downloads, but comes at a higher cost.

Setting up a reserved IP address for your Pi-hole and using it as the DNS server for your network is crucial for effective ad blocking.

For web browsing, Brave's built-in Shields feature is recommended, while uBlock Origin offers the best ad-blocking option with customizable filters and JavaScript blocking.

Safari users can use AdGuard for ad blocking, and disabling JavaScript in the browser can be a workaround for those unable to install ad blockers.

Alternatives to Watching YouTube with Ads

There are apps like FreeTube, Li tube, and yati that bypass YouTube's algorithm, avoiding ads and trackers while offering subscription notifications.

Importing YouTube data through Google Takeout is easy and provides the necessary history and subscriptions for these apps.

For Android users, Gray J and NewPipe offer similar services, while Invidious provides a customizable YouTube experience.

Alternatives to YouTube and the Impact of Bing

Bing's interface may be crummy, but it offers free access to YouTube videos without ads.

The alternative front ends and apps for YouTube provide extra steps to enjoy content, but their existence is uncertain.

Flexi Spot is offering a sale on their E7 Plus standing desk and C7 Ergo chair, providing a stable and supportive work setup.