Why I Dropped Google & Microsoft (What I'm Using Instead)

If you don't like your data being sold to data brokers, here is what you should do right now.

Feb 18, 2025

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For years, I didn’t think twice about using Google and Microsoft for everything.

Gmail? Easy.
Google Search? Fast.
Google Drive & OneDrive? Seamless integration.

Everything just worked.

But there was one problem: I wasn’t the customer—I was the product.

Google knew what I searched.
Microsoft knew what I stored.
And every time I opened Chrome, a quiet transaction was happening behind the scenes—my data, exchanged for convenience.

I ignored it at first. Because switching felt impossible.

Would privacy-focused tools slow me down?
Would I lose features I relied on?
Would it even make a difference?

But then I dug deeper—and what I found changed everything.

Here’s why I finally stopped using Google & Microsoft for search, email, cloud storage, and browsing—and what I use instead.

The Breaking Point: When I Realized Convenience Wasn’t Worth the Cost

At first, I brushed it off. Everyone uses Google and Microsoft, right?

Sure, I knew they collected data. That’s how free services work.

But the more I looked into it, the more I started noticing the cracks.

Ads that were a little too accurate. A private conversation with a friend about a product—and suddenly, it was in every ad I saw.
Documents I thought were private… but weren’t. I stored sensitive notes in Google Drive—only to learn Google scans everything for “policy violations.”
Microsoft’s never-ending tracking. Even after opting out, Windows still sent telemetry data back to Microsoft servers.

And then, the realization hit me:

I wasn’t just using these tools.

They were using me.

At that point, I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

But I still had one big question: Could I actually replace them without sacrificing ease of use?

So I decided to find out.

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The Hardest Part About Leaving Google & Microsoft

I wanted privacy. But I also wanted things to work.

So I made a deal with myself:
💡 If switching to privacy-focused tools slowed me down, broke my workflow, or made things harder—I’d stop.

At first, I thought it would be easy. Just swap out a few apps, right?

Not exactly.

Here’s what surprised me:

Google’s grip on my digital life was deeper than I thought.
I wasn’t just using Gmail, Search, and Drive. Google was everywhere. My calendar, my saved passwords, my documents—it all ran through Google’s ecosystem.
Some habits were hard to break.
Chrome felt familiar. Google Search gave me instant answers. I had to rewire how I used the internet—which took time.
Privacy-focused tools weren’t always a perfect replacement.
I expected every alternative to be just as good, just more private. Some were. Some weren’t.

Here’s what I tried—and why they didn’t work for me:

🔹 DuckDuckGo (Instead of Google Search)

At first, DuckDuckGo seemed like the best alternative—private, fast, no tracking.
But after they started working with Microsoft, I started digging into its privacy policies.
Turns out, it allows Microsoft trackers on search results and has questionable data-sharing practices.
At that point, it was just another Microsoft product—without the branding.

🔹 Startpage (Instead of Google Search)

Since it pulls Google results without tracking, I thought it was the perfect compromise.
But I noticed it still filters results the same way Google does—which means you’re still in a bubble.
Slower response times made it frustrating compared to other options.

🔹 TutaNota (Instead of Gmail)

A strong encrypted email option, but it lacked some of the convenience I was looking for.
User interface felt clunky compared to what I was used to.
Delivery delays were frustrating when I needed instant email access.

🔹 Nextcloud (Instead of Google Drive & OneDrive)

Self-hosted and super powerful, but it required more manual upkeep than I wanted.
Syncing issues with certain third-party apps made it feel less seamless than Google Drive.
Better for full control, but I wanted something that just worked out of the box.

🔹 LibreWolf (Instead of Chrome)

Fully de-Googled Firefox fork—great on paper.
Too many extensions needed to match the functionality I wanted.
Some websites didn’t work properly, which was a dealbreaker.

At this point, I thought I had to choose between privacy and usability.

But then, I found a set of privacy tools that actually worked—without making my life harder.

The Privacy Tools I Actually Stuck With—And Why They Worked

After testing a ton of privacy-first tools, I found a set of replacements that actually worked—without breaking my workflow.

Here’s what I use now instead of Google & Microsoft:

What I Left Behind, What I Use Now, and Why It Works

Gmail » ProtonMail: End-to-end encryption, no tracking, no ads reading my inbox. Privacy-focused without sacrificing usability.

Google Search » Brave Search: Truly private search with unfiltered results. No tracking, no search bubbles.

Google Drive & Microsoft OneDrive » Proton Drive: Encrypted cloud storage. Keeps my files private—not scanned for ad targeting.

Chrome » Brave Browser: Built-in tracker blocking, faster than Chrome, and no data harvesting.

Windows (Still Using, But…) » Privacy-Hardened Windows: Disabled telemetry, using privacy tools like O&O ShutUp10++ to minimize tracking.

1. Why I Chose ProtonMail Over Gmail

When I learned that Gmail scans every email I send and receive for ad targeting, I knew I had to leave.

What made ProtonMail the best choice:

End-to-end encryption ensures only I can read my emails.
No tracking, no ad-based profiling.
A clean, modern interface that makes the transition seamless.

Biggest challenge: Google makes leaving difficult. Exporting and migrating emails took some effort, but once I switched, I never looked back.

2. Why Brave Search Replaced Google

I was skeptical about leaving Google Search. Could a privacy-focused search engine actually compete?

Turns out, yes.

Brave Search worked because:

No tracking, no filter bubbles, no personalized ad targeting.
Unbiased, unfiltered results—unlike Google, which censors and prioritizes results based on its own interests.
Fast and reliable without compromising privacy.

Most people assume Google is the only search engine that works. That’s exactly how they want you to think.

3. Why I Chose Proton Drive Over Google Drive & OneDrive

Cloud storage was a tough one. I wanted something that worked just as well as Google Drive but without the privacy concerns.

Proton Drive checked every box:

Zero-knowledge encryption—even Proton can’t access my files.
No scanning or data mining—unlike Google Drive, which analyzes file content.
Simple file-sharing options without exposing my identity or metadata.

Downside: It’s not as polished as Google Drive, but the tradeoff is worth it.

4. Why Brave Browser Replaced Chrome

Chrome was the hardest habit to break, but once I made the switch, I never looked back.

Brave Browser won me over because:

Built-in tracker and ad blocking—no need for extensions to protect privacy.
Faster than Chrome because it isn’t loading trackers on every page.
Supports Chrome extensions for an easy transition.

Most people assume private browsers are slow or lack features—Brave proves otherwise.

5. Why I’m Still on Windows (For Now) But Have Locked It Down

I have switched to Linux Mint for my laptop but still use Windows for my desktop, but I’ve taken every step possible to minimize Microsoft’s tracking.

Disabled telemetry and data collection using O&O ShutUp10++.
Replaced Microsoft’s built-in services with privacy-focused alternatives.
Blocked Microsoft servers from collecting data using firewall settings.

Even after turning off every possible setting, Windows still tries to track you. It’s designed that way.

Check out this other post:

Your Data is Worth Thousands—Here’s Who’s Selling It (And How to Stop It)

Jason Rowe

Feb 28

Read full story

📌 The Truth About Switching to Privacy-Focused Tools

You don’t have to quit Google cold turkey. Start small—switch your search engine, then your email, then your browser.
It’s easier than you think. The hardest part is breaking old habits.
Most people don’t switch because they think they’ll lose convenience. But in reality, privacy-focused tools are just as good—sometimes better.

Most people will never leave Google & Microsoft because they assume they don’t have a choice.

But they do.

The question is: Will they take it?

What Most People Get Wrong About Privacy

Most people assume that switching to privacy-focused tools means giving up convenience.

They think:

"If I leave Google, I’ll lose all my emails and files."
"Privacy tools are slow, clunky, and hard to use."
"I’m not doing anything illegal, so I don’t need privacy."

Here’s the truth:

1. You Don’t Have to Quit Google Cold Turkey

Privacy isn’t all or nothing.

You don’t have to delete your Gmail today, throw away your laptop, and move to the woods.

Instead, you can:

Switch your search engine first. Try Brave Search instead of Google.
Use a privacy-friendly browser. Brave works just like Chrome—but without the tracking.
Slowly transition away from Big Tech services. Move your most sensitive emails to ProtonMail first, then the rest later.

Small changes add up fast.

2. Privacy Tools Are Just as Good—Sometimes Better

Big Tech wants you to believe their services are the only option.

That’s why they:

Make it difficult to leave. Ever tried deleting a Google account? They don’t make it easy.
Smear privacy-first competitors. They claim privacy tools are "inconvenient" or "not as powerful."
Lock you into their ecosystem. Google and Microsoft products work best when used together—so you feel dependent.

But the reality?

Privacy-focused tools like Brave, ProtonMail, and Proton Drive are just as easy to use—without the surveillance.

3. “I’m Not Doing Anything Illegal, So Why Should I Care?”

This is the biggest lie we’ve been told about privacy.

Privacy isn’t about hiding. It’s about control.

Your emails, your searches, your files—should be yours.
You shouldn’t have to trade personal data just to use basic services.
A lack of privacy today can become a problem tomorrow.

Most people don’t care about privacy until it’s too late.

Their email gets hacked.
Their identity gets stolen.
Their search history is used against them.

By then, the damage is already done.

The best time to take privacy seriously? Before you need to.

📌 So What’s the Next Step?

By now, you know the truth:

Google & Microsoft built their businesses by harvesting your data.
Every email you send, every file you store, every search you make—it’s all being tracked.
Most people never take action—until they regret not doing it sooner.

So where do you go from here?

You have two choices:

Do nothing. Keep using the same tools, telling yourself, “I’ll deal with privacy later.”
Start making smarter choices today—before you become another statistic.

If you’re reading this, you already care about your privacy.

But caring isn’t enough. You need a plan.

📌 The Digital Privacy Toolkit: Your Playbook for a Privacy-First Business

You don’t have to figure this out on your own.

The Digital Privacy Toolkit is designed Individuals concerned about their online privacy, those new to cybersecurity, or anyone wanting to take control of their personal data.

Inside, you’ll get:

Personal Cybersecurity Checklist: Simple steps to protect yourself from online threats.
Identity Theft Prevention Guide: Learn how to prevent and respond to identity theft.
Home Network Security Tips: Secure your home Wi-Fi and connected devices.
Data Privacy Guide: Understand how to control who accesses your personal information.
Social Media Privacy Settings: Manage what you share and with whom.
Opting Out of Data Brokers Guide: Stop the data brokers from profiting off your information

You’ve seen how Big Tech operates.

Now, it’s time to put a real plan in place to take control of your data and your business.

Get It Now

📌 What Happens If You Do Nothing?

Ignoring this won’t make the problem go away.

Google will continue tracking everything you search, type, and store.
Your inbox will keep being scanned for ad targeting.
Your data will keep being sold to advertisers, governments, and third parties.

Privacy isn’t something you can recover once it’s gone.

The best time to take it seriously? Before you need to.

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📌 Now I Want to Hear From You

Most people never switch to privacy tools because they assume they don’t have a choice.