How To: Escape Google, Once and For All

[pokerfan]

Since Google has turned evil, some people are looking for alternatives...

So you're fed up with Google, and you've got a litany of reasons. More now than ever. You don't even have to explain—we're just here to help you crawl out from under the shadow of the big G, step by step.

The decision to close your Google account has to be carefully considered—after all, this is the place that stores your email, your documents, your contacts, your photos, your news, and even your health records. But this level of investment to one service is as good a reason to leave as it is to stay: If looking at your Google Dashboard, which lists all the services you use, and the amount and type of information you store on them, doesn't make you feel a little uneasy, then hell, what would?

Anyway, we're not here to make the case for you to drop Google altogether—it's not something I'm prepared to do, for a start—I'm just here to tell you how to do it. Here's everything you need to know about life after Google.

http://gizmodo.com/5879015/how-to-escape-from-googles-clutches-once-and-for-all

[cbayer]

1. OK, I just looked at my Google dashboard and it scared the crap out of me.

Great article. I abandoned facebook a while ago due to privacy concerns, and I am going to start de-googling.

Thanks for posting this.

[cbayer]

2. One more thing - I really think you should put this in gd

[pokerfan]

3. Umm... no

In the past I've been criticized for posting non-political stuff in GD so I don't believe I will.

[cbayer]

4. Now that there is the Politics 2012 forum, I think there is a lot more flexibility in GD,

but you should do what you are comfortable with.

[Why Syzygy]

5. What's really creepy

is when google shares my search terms with my youtube page.

Didn't know there's a google dashboard. Will look for it..

edit to add: I am NOT using yahoo mail. Mine's been hacked and everyone else I know who use it have too.
What a POS that one is!

[JBoy]

6. I just got my hotmail account spammed by Google announcing their policy change

Rather strange, since I have no google accounts, and only use hotmail as my "spam sponge" account.

Also, isn't hotmail Microsoft?

Dear Google user,

We're getting rid of over 60 different privacy policies across Google and replacing them with one that's a lot shorter and easier to read. Our new policy covers multiple products and features, reflecting our desire to create one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google.

We believe this stuff matters, so please take a few minutes to read our updated Privacy Policy and Terms of Service at http://www.google.com/policies. These changes will take effect on March 1, 2012.


Our new policy reflects a single product experience that does what you need, when you want it to. Whether reading an email that reminds you to schedule a family get-together or finding a favorite video that you want to share, we want to ensure you can move across Gmail, Calendar, Search, YouTube, or whatever your life calls for with ease.

If you're signed into Google, we can do things like suggest search queries – or tailor your search results – based on the interests you've expressed in Google+, Gmail, and YouTube. We'll better understand which version of Pink or Jaguar you're searching for and get you those results faster.

When you post or create a document online, you often want others to see and contribute. By remembering the contact information of the people you want to share with, we make it easy for you to share in any Google product or service with minimal clicks and errors.

Our goal is to provide you with as much transparency and choice as possible, through products like Google Dashboard and Ads Preferences Manager, alongside other tools. Our privacy principles remain unchanged. And we'll never sell your personal information or share it without your permission (other than rare circumstances like valid legal requests).

If you want to learn more about your data on Google and across the web, including tips and advice for staying safe online, check out http://www.google.com/goodtoknow

Notice of Change

March 1, 2012 is when the new Privacy Policy and Terms will come into effect. If you choose to keep using Google once the change occurs, you will be doing so under the new Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Please do not reply to this email. Mail sent to this address cannot be answered. Also, never enter your Google Account password after following a link in an email or chat to an untrusted site. Instead, go directly to the site, such as mail.google.com or www.google.com/accounts. Google will never email you to ask for your password or other sensitive information.

[pokerfan]

7. Google knows who you are

[TygrBright]

8. I don't think much of their alternate recommendations.

MUCH better search engines: Ixquick and DuckDuckGo

MUCH better social networking: *Diaspora

Better email: AOL. Yes, I said AOL. Their security is very good, spam blocking is EXCELLENT,
and they have a good array of user tools to help you manage your mail. You don't have to putz with any of the rest of it.

Better image storage: Old standby, Photobucket

Better web-based calendar: Calendars.net

For godssakes stay the hell away from bing and yahoo-- they're even worse than Google.

helpfully,
Bright

[TreasonousBastard]

10. Dunno why all the hate for Bing and Yahoo...

I get good results from them, better than Google most of the time, and never had a problem with my Yahoo mail or Flickr accounts. Got my calendar there, too. Docs & stuff go to Dropbox or Evernote.

Yeah, there's dozens of search engines out there for some really tough or specialized stuff, but most of my searches now are routine crap.

[Brian12]

9. article

This is an excellent read. Thanks for posting it.