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Seconded. As such, I’ve switched to Safari, DuckDuckGo, and Fastmail. But how does one escape their ubiquitous presence all over the web (Google analytics, ads)

Seconded. As such, I’ve switched to Safari, DuckDuckGo, and Fastmail. But how does one escape their ubiquitous presence all over the web (Google analytics, ads)??? They’re like a creepy neighbor who keeps following you around.

Fordec 5y ago
Could install a Pi hole to block them off your home network entirely. But yeah, I'm also phasing out my google usage. Personally getting off gmail and professionally migrating off firebase and already refuse to work with GCP in any capacity.
checkyoursudo 5y ago
I haven't used this method for Google, but I have blocked some other domains using hosts file entries. Here is an example for Google: https://superuser.com/questions/1135339/cant-block-connections-to-google-via-hosts-file https://superuser.com/questions/1135339/cant-block-connectio...
- Loic 5y ago
  I am using and paying for NextDNS together with Firefox and uBlock Origin. Pretty painless setup. It works pretty well and as I have setup NextDNS to be the DNS resolver used by my access point, the family get the benefits of it without knowing about it. On the mobile, you need to set it up as VPN, this adds clutter in the notifications area, my kids do not like that.
  - pmontra 5y ago
    I'm using Blockada on Android. It's also a VPN. Sadly Android allows only one VPN (don't know why) so I can't have Blockada running when I connect to a customer VPN.
eitland 5y ago
Hosts file on Linux (also works on Windows for those still stuck there). Something like Lockdown on iOS (works nicely even on unrooted devices like mine.)
throaway46546 5y ago
Pi-hole, DNS66, uBlock Origin
prox 5y ago
On websites, drop GA for “simple” server stats. Or one of many options now available.
isoprophlex 5y ago
DNS-level blocking of Google bullshit on all your devices and/or directly in your router
javajosh 5y ago
Firefox and uBlock Origin is a convenient and effective first line of defense. My personal concern is the smartphone. Apple concerns me less than Google, but not by much. Android has the better potential for full, verifiable independence-from-the-Mothership (via LineageOS, GrapheneOS, F-Droid, ...) but it all feels early, amateurish, almost like an ambitious project that advances only when capable strangers volunteer their spare time.
- fsflover 5y ago
  See also GNU/Linux smartphones, Librem 5 and Pinephone.
- packetlost 5y ago
  > but it all feels early, amateurish, almost like an ambitious project that advances only when capable strangers volunteer their spare time Because that's literally what those projects are.
  - javajosh 5y ago
    If only I had known that when I wrote my post, and used the opportunity to make a dry joke out of it by imitating someone who is guessing an answer they know to be true! It's the end of the weekend and I want to go so deep I don't even know if I'm being sarcastic anymore.
- tsol 5y ago
  Filtering apps like blokada are a start, I would presume
zzzbra 5y ago
Firefox is also really worth checking out again.
- winternett 5y ago
  They still have you with Android OS on many phones, and if not with Google Analytics tracking firmly embedded into most sites on the web... Occasionally I like to fake wild conversations and go to completely out of character sites and locations just to throw their algos and tracking of me off. It's the only real way I can protest any more. :/
  - robin_reala 5y ago
    Turn on Enhanced Tracking Protection in Firefox: it shims GA so that websites that expect the API to be there still function, but nothing gets loaded from Google.
elliekelly 5y ago
NextDNS has a “No Google” list but it definitely takes some getting used to. Even though you’re aware of Google’s stranglehold on the internet it’s a bit jarring. I didn’t realize just how pernicious Google was until I blocked them completely.
Diesel555 5y ago
I believe Safari is underrated these days. I really like the tab grouping and syncing that they just released. Except for dev, I still use Chrome/Brave and Firefox for that. I also use the three technologies you mentioned. Fast mail has been great.

Fordec 5y ago

Could install a Pi hole to block them off your home network entirely. But yeah, I'm also phasing out my google usage. Personally getting off gmail and professionally migrating off firebase and already refuse to work with GCP in any capacity.

checkyoursudo 5y ago

I haven't used this method for Google, but I have blocked some other domains using hosts file entries. Here is an example for Google: https://superuser.com/questions/1135339/cant-block-connections-to-google-via-hosts-file https://superuser.com/questions/1135339/cant-block-connectio...

Loic 5y ago
I am using and paying for NextDNS together with Firefox and uBlock Origin. Pretty painless setup. It works pretty well and as I have setup NextDNS to be the DNS resolver used by my access point, the family get the benefits of it without knowing about it. On the mobile, you need to set it up as VPN, this adds clutter in the notifications area, my kids do not like that.
- pmontra 5y ago
  I'm using Blockada on Android. It's also a VPN. Sadly Android allows only one VPN (don't know why) so I can't have Blockada running when I connect to a customer VPN.

eitland 5y ago

Hosts file on Linux (also works on Windows for those still stuck there). Something like Lockdown on iOS (works nicely even on unrooted devices like mine.)

throaway46546 5y ago

Pi-hole, DNS66, uBlock Origin

prox 5y ago

On websites, drop GA for “simple” server stats. Or one of many options now available.

isoprophlex 5y ago

DNS-level blocking of Google bullshit on all your devices and/or directly in your router

javajosh 5y ago

Firefox and uBlock Origin is a convenient and effective first line of defense. My personal concern is the smartphone. Apple concerns me less than Google, but not by much. Android has the better potential for full, verifiable independence-from-the-Mothership (via LineageOS, GrapheneOS, F-Droid, ...) but it all feels early, amateurish, almost like an ambitious project that advances only when capable strangers volunteer their spare time.

fsflover 5y ago
See also GNU/Linux smartphones, Librem 5 and Pinephone.
packetlost 5y ago
> but it all feels early, amateurish, almost like an ambitious project that advances only when capable strangers volunteer their spare time Because that's literally what those projects are.
- javajosh 5y ago
  If only I had known that when I wrote my post, and used the opportunity to make a dry joke out of it by imitating someone who is guessing an answer they know to be true! It's the end of the weekend and I want to go so deep I don't even know if I'm being sarcastic anymore.
tsol 5y ago
Filtering apps like blokada are a start, I would presume

zzzbra 5y ago

Firefox is also really worth checking out again.

winternett 5y ago
They still have you with Android OS on many phones, and if not with Google Analytics tracking firmly embedded into most sites on the web... Occasionally I like to fake wild conversations and go to completely out of character sites and locations just to throw their algos and tracking of me off. It's the only real way I can protest any more. :/
- robin_reala 5y ago
  Turn on Enhanced Tracking Protection in Firefox: it shims GA so that websites that expect the API to be there still function, but nothing gets loaded from Google.

elliekelly 5y ago

NextDNS has a “No Google” list but it definitely takes some getting used to. Even though you’re aware of Google’s stranglehold on the internet it’s a bit jarring. I didn’t realize just how pernicious Google was until I blocked them completely.

Diesel555 5y ago

I believe Safari is underrated these days. I really like the tab grouping and syncing that they just released. Except for dev, I still use Chrome/Brave and Firefox for that. I also use the three technologies you mentioned. Fast mail has been great.