What do you think of using Google in your life?

[amadaluzia@mastodon.bsd.cafe]

What do you think of using Google in your life?

I use a Google Pixel 7 Pro at the moment, but I use GrapheneOS instead of OEM, and I think it is the best Android line of phones I have used so far. Their bootloader is lockable after installing custom operating systems which is much better than all other offers at the moment. The build quality, battery and design of the phone is solid as well. This phone has a lot of merits going for it which other Android phones are not replicating for the sake of a false sense of "security" or profits. I will appreciate Google for giving me a great phone to install GrapheneOS on, alongside Android for being a secure base for an operating system.

I appreciate the Chromium browser more than other browsers in the market. While Google Chrome is junk regarding user privacy, as well as shoving AI in your face, Chromium itself is actually pretty solid. It is also the most secure option, offering a malloc() implementation better than Firefox's mozmalloc, although not as secure as hardened_malloc, by GrapheneOS. Firefox is also implementing AI features into their browser, which leaves a bad taste in my mouth. MV2 is deprecated, sure, but you win more than you lose in security, as a lot of API features were exploitable. Chromium does a lot of good things, while Chrome gives the base itself a lot of bad blood. I would like to see what Servo can do, but I appreciate Google for making a secure browser.

I generally despise a lot of what Google offers, however. I feel like they lean heavily on the deception of convenience, where Google gives really good results while it uses your data for the sake of advertising. This applies with the Google Suite (Mail, Office, and Drive among others) as well. I would much rather use FOSS or nonprofit alternatives, such as Tutanota, or LibreOffice. Google is essentially the serpent from The Book of Genesis, selling you the benefit of their convenience for the sake of having your data stolen for their use. As such, I will choose not to follow Google convenience promise for my security.

Feel free to leave your opinions, and why I should consider other avenues rather than accepting a bit of Google in my life. As much as I love privacy, your privacy can't be guaranteed if there is no good security. Google may be known for piss-poor privacy, but their open source projects have a lot of security merits as well as good privacy. Do not use this as advice, but make your own conclusion.

#google #privacy #security #grapheneos #chromium #technology #FOSS