Is there any way to get rid of Google and use a different system?

I am really tired of Google and all of the control it has over what I do on my computer. I know that some of you will say that control is what is needed, but I just don't want it to have the control. I would like to be able to use my computer that way that I want to and not be told what is needed to get passed the control issues. Please don't respond if you are a avid Google user and try to convince me to stick with it. I have given this much thought and would like to know if there is any way to use a different venue.

I know that I need to get rid of my Gmail accounts and use a different browser. Will that take care of the google control, or what do I need to do?

I don't blame you, I can't stand anything Google related.

If you have an admin account on your computer that is setup with a google account, then your going to have to create a local account on your PC,

Go to your control panel, and then to user accounts to do that,

Give the local account admin privileges,

Next login to the PC using the local account, and then delete your old admin/Google account,

Delete the Chrome browser if you want and use Firefox or something else,

Edited by mikey11, 27 June 2021 - 11:07 AM.

I am really tired of Google and all of the control it has over what I do on my computer. I know that some of you will say that control is what is needed, but I just don't want it to have the control. I would like to be able to use my computer that way that I want to and not be told what is needed to get passed the control issues. Please don't respond if you are a avid Google user and try to convince me to stick with it. I have given this much thought and would like to know if there is any way to use a different venue.

 

I know that I need to get rid of my Gmail accounts and use a different browser. Will that take care of the google control, or what do I need to do?

Because Windows is a product of Microsoft, a Windows computer comes with zero connection with Google right out of the box. The only time that Google gets on a personal computer with Windows is if you install it. So the simple answer is to not install and create a Google account.

Of course you can not avoid Google on a smartphone, but simply do not install Google on your PC and you will be 100% Google free.

As an aside. Because a Windows computer is shipped without any Google products on it at all, I am curious as to why you installed Google stuff on your Microsoft-based system. I use Windows so I accept that Microsoft is in charge of everything that is on my computer, so there is no way that I would install Google on top of that.

Of course, with a smartphone Google owns the whole thing so you have to accept Google if you want a smartphone.

You can use Gmail on Firefox, MS W7 Edge, MS IE, the newer the versions the better. Just ignore any mild complaints and mild suggestions to use Google Chrome. 

Edited by RolandJS, 29 June 2021 - 07:11 PM.

You can use Firefox or Edge or a different browser/search engine.

As to what Browser you use. I'll leave that to the Techies here, although I use Firefox and Edge. Unfortunately, both are Chrome based.

For email. You can use any of several free ones. I suppose that your ISP's one is not technically free. but there are many that are. Others will be happy to tell you their favourites. Once you have set up your new Account & Address, just send your new address to all those that currently use Gmail to correspond with you. Then never visit it again. I believe it lapses after 90 days  without use.

As a Search Engine. I use DuckDuckGo.com 

As to what Browser you use. I'll leave that to the Techies here, although I use Firefox and Edge. Unfortunately, both are Chrome based.

 

For email. You can use any of several free ones. I suppose that your ISP's one is not technically free. but there are many that are. Others will be happy to tell you their favourites. Once you have set up your new Account & Address, just send your new address to all those that currently use Gmail to correspond with you. Then never visit it again. I believe it lapses after 90 days  without use.

 

As a Search Engine. I use DuckDuckGo.com 

I agree 100%. The OP can just use Edge and Bing, although I do not like Bing results. Edge with DuckDuckGo is a great alternative for the OP.

Edit: To the OP, do not use a smartphone. Then you will always be locked into Google.

Edited by Rocky Bennett, 06 July 2021 - 04:42 PM.

 

 

Edit: To the OP, do not use a smartphone. Then you will always be locked into Google.

 

not true,

i have a samsung smartphone, just got it a month ago, i don't need a google account to use it,

you only need a google account if you want to download and install additional apps from google play

and even then you wouldn\t be locked into google,

you can sign into google, download the apps you want, and then sign back out

Edited by mikey11, 07 July 2021 - 11:17 AM.

mikey, your only problem is that Android is owned by Google

I sometimes wonder if google isnt a kind of virus,..all you really have to do is delete,remove anything"google",from your computer,and dont use "google chrome",browser,..Use Edge,Firefox or Brave instead,..

Then use an alternative search engine that doesnt track you everywhere,.. DuckDuckGo,or Ecosia..

https://duckduckgo.com/

https://www.ecosia.org/?c=en

https://spreadprivacy.com/how-to-remove-google/

Another alternative search engine to Google that concentrates on privacy is .... https://www.startpage.com/

 

 

 

Edit: To the OP, do not use a smartphone. Then you will always be locked into Google.

 

 

not true,

 

i have a samsung smartphone, just got it a month ago, i don't need a google account to use it,

 

you only need a google account if you want to download and install additional apps from google play

 

and even then you wouldn\t be locked into google,

 

you can sign into google, download the apps you want, and then sign back out

 

I'm not talking about a Google account. The phone is an Android and thus it is a Google device. When you buy the phone you show ID and the phone is registered to you. Google then knows everything that you do with the phone, where you go, how long you stay, what apps you use, etc. Google has access to all that data and controls all that data.

I am not paranoid, I do not use a Faraday wallet. I am comfortable with life in the 21st Century. But the fact of the matter, if you use an electronic device, you generate data. I am cool with Microsoft, I am ambivalent about Google, but I do not trust or like Apple. That is just me.

Since the OP asked her question in a Windows forum that means that she installed Google herself onto her system. A Microsoft product comes with zero Google products on it, competition you know.  So the OP could choose to use a different browser and/or search engine. It is that simple.