Reminder to switch browsers if you haven’t already!


  • Google Chrome is starting to phase out older, more capable ad blocking extensions in favor of the more limited Manifest V3 system.
  • The Manifest V3 system has been criticized by groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation for restricting the capabilities of web extensions.
  • Google has made concessions to Manifest V3, but limitations on content filtering remain a source of skepticism and concern.
  • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.works
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    5 months ago

    Here’s what I did:

    1. switch to Firefox - works with all the Google crap, so it’s an easy switch
    2. get a slim wallet - I don’t need Google Wallet at all anymore, I just keep the two cards I use for everything easily accessible
    3. install GrapheneOS on my Pixel phone - can install sandboxed Google crap if you want (I do it in a separate profile)
    4. YouTube - install ad-block and use Grayjay on my phone to make it easier to watch non-YouTube channels
    5. forward all gmail to a new account (I picked Tuta, but Protonmail is probably better for most) - easy to configure forwards in gmail, and then I just give out my new email to family and friends; plan is to keep gmail for spam once I’m no longer getting important emails sent to my new email

    I’m still stuck with Google Drive though. As you said, it’s just so convenient. I’m trying out OnlyOffice with a self-hosted NextCloud instance, but there’s a lot of sacrifices. I have some complex spreadsheets, and switching to literally anything else loses features (I like the GOOGLEFINANCE() feature).

    But yeah, I wish Google didn’t suck, they have some really convenient products, I just don’t trust them anymore.