The Google Corporation has created a variety of great products and services for us, many of which we depend on today. Google, indeed, has been a big player in opening up the internet, allowing us to have amazing access to information and the world at large. I think it’s appropriate for us to be grateful to them. However, unfortunately, their motivation to be truly of service to humanity and the world has been lost in pure financial greed and power. Now, Google is not alone in having financial gain be the only purpose of existence. Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, and others are just as implicated. All of these companies offer free services, but the question still remains, “What price do we pay for using these services?” Let it be said, “Nothing in life is truly free!” The price we pay, my friends, is allowing them to collect and use our personal and private data for their own gain, without our permission or knowledge, thereby allowing them to control our experience when we’re online.
I did considerable research before writing this article, and found Google to be worth around 1.8 trillion dollars, Microsoft over 2 trillion, Apple over 2 trillion, and so on and so on. These massive companies already have everything, but still want more. Sure, every company, every business person has a right to make money and be successful, but when is enough enough? The problem isn’t that they are successful and provided us with much, it’s how they created their success in the first place. Again, we know the bottom line of most companies is enormous and unnecessary financial gain, but do we have the right to ask more of them? I think we should. You see, their greed has allowed them to engage in deceptive, dishonest, and ultimately harmful tactics and practices. This is the price we pay. Can we trust them to keep us safe, to do the right thing for us? My friends, no, we cannot, not even remotely. It’s so tragic that money is the only goal, no matter how much it hurts all of us. The greed of these corporations, namely Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple, etc., has gotten so out of hand, we cannot even trust that when we search for something online we are receiving truthful and appropriate information. And, as far as privacy, security, and safety today, there is none.
Getting back to Google, specifically, many of you may not know they are being sued by the United States Department of Justice for possibly breaking monopoly laws. Possibly is a joke, of course they are. So are Microsoft and Apple. Unfortunately, we cannot rely on the U.S. government to do the right thing. Our friends in the European Union, you are doing better, but it’s still not enough. It is time we get more involved, for we decide what is and what is not. There’s always something we can do, but we must take action. I would like to point out that these companies are slowly but surely forcing us to do certain things online, with our devices and browsers, that are not in our best interest. And, it’s getting worse, day by day. My friends, we are not paying attention, we are allowing ourselves to be manipulated, so whatever happens, we have no right to complain. What I can do is tell you what I have noticed, and then we’ll consider our options to offset the unfortunate direction many of these companies are attempting to take us. It is our time to take charge, to say no. The only way to achieve this is to stop using their products and services. Are there other choices, are there better choices? You bet.
If you use Google Chrome, or any chromium-based browser for that matter, there is no longer an option to delete cookies and search history when you close the browser. Now, you can do that manually, but I personally do not believe you are actually deleting anything. Chrome, and all Chromium browsers, send data back to Google, for Google created the system they run on. There are certain browsers that say they are more private, but how can we believe them? Every person should be able to clear all data at any time, and trust that it is gone when they do so. Again, if you use Google Chrome, Edge, Opera, and others, every word you type, everything you do is sent back to Google. Yes, there are settings in these browsers for better privacy, but I do not believe they make any difference. Whatever browser you choose, turn off all the settings you can, and hope for the best. My suggestion, choose something else, and we’ll get to that in a moment.
This new Manifest V3 API stuff, I can’t speak to, I’m not a computer junkie! However, research unveils yet another system of control by Google. They say it will provide more online security, but again, we simply have more deception on their part. If Google puts this process through, many of the extensions and apps we use and love will no longer work. This is especially the case with ad blockers. They simply will not work. It should be clear why Google wants this, for they are in fact an advertising company, that’s how they make their money. What you will see in the Chrome Browser, and elsewhere, are more ads. By the way, if you use Windows, their native browser Edge has become an over-bloated and overblown nightmare. Is it fast? You bet it’s fast, but is a tiny improvement to speed and performance worth your privacy and comfort? Google as an advertising giant has met its match with the Microsoft Corporation and its browser, Edge! What a data collection service it is! And to you Apple lovers out there, Safari is not much better, nor are their mail and cloud storage services.
The only other option we have, my friends, is the Mozilla Corporation. Their business model is entirely privacy and security focused, and they deliver. Here we have their browser, Firefox. It’s the most reliable and reputable browser on the market today. They have no relationship to Google or Apple, no Google code whatsoever. Now, they’re still a big tech company and they do therefore collect data. The good news is, they allow you to turn this setting off, and they do honor your settings. Firefox doesn’t bother you about anything. This browser is fast and efficient, it has everything you need. Add-ons, extensions galore, none of which are Google. Its speed and performance matches Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge in my experience. My friends, you will feel safe, secure, and private in this browser. I would trust Firefox with any data you may provide. An open market, a company with your best interests in mind, Mozilla Firefox is the way to go. Go ahead and download this browser today. By the way, if you have an android smartphone, their mobile browser is equally fantastic. Interestingly, and somewhat unfortunately, Firefox has Google Search as the default search engine, but this can easily be changed with one click in the settings. You may ask, “Why would Firefox choose a Google product when they claim to be privacy-centered?” Well again, it’s always about money. Google has paid Firefox and Mozilla some 500 million dollars so far to have Google Search be the default search engine in their browser. This is easy to change, and my guess is that is what Firefox hopes you will do. The Google monopoly is clearly visible here. But, we’ll have to give Mozilla and Firefox a break. Every business needs money to stay alive, and we need them to stay alive, otherwise privacy, transparency, and safety will never be ours. We must not allow Google to become more of a monster than it already is. Try Firefox today, you’ll love it! We can indeed take the internet and our online experience in a better direction. Keep in mind, this new Manifest V 3 Google wants to bring forward will have no impact in Firefox, including ad blockers. Firefox has its own code and system. They also have their own AI technology, again, privacy always at the forefront. Firefox Browser with U-Block Origin as an ad blocker is all you need for a great experience.
*There is another new browser based on Firefox that has come out recently. This is the Floorp Browser. It was developed by a couple of college students in Japan. Wonderful browser, I use it is as my default. Good looking, fast, and more customization and privacy than even Firefox. They are new, so be patient and give them some time. Yet another opportunity for us to support smaller business. Another opportunity to give the little guy a chance to be involved in the development of great products and services. Google, Microsoft, and Apple don’t give any of these wonderful and creative young people a chance. But we can, by making different choices today.
Believe it or not, my friends, you don’t need Google, or their products and services. Same thing with Microsoft and Apple. There are great products and services that focus on our privacy, and have much more respectful data collection practices. Remember, Google is not God, although they are certainly pretending to be! Remember too, all the money we give them, all the power we let them take, they do not return. Monopolies cannot stand. We decide.
The majority of the world population uses the Windows System. Again, thank you Microsoft and Google for all you provide. We can only hope you understand the value of privacy. Linux based devices are a much better way to go, but unfortunately, most of us cannot afford them. Most of us cannot afford Apple products either, but again, I’m not sure Apple is any more private anyway. As far as most smartphones that are affordable, well, they require a Google account in order to use them. The government has to step in here and tell Google no. Unfortunately, whether we want to admit it or not, the bigger the company, the less they will care about us and what we need. Having said all this, we must make do with what we’ve got. Here are my recommendations:
Choose These
Browsers – Firefox, Floorp, LibreWolf
Search Engines – Startpage or Duck Duck Go
Free Mail and Cloud Storage – Protonmail or Zohomail
Avoid These
Browsers – Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, all chromium-based browsers
Search Engines – Google Search and Bing Search
Mail and Cloud Storage – Outlook and Gmail, OneDrive and GoogleDrive
A little off topic today, my friends, but important nevertheless. The importance of choice, fairness, and honesty applies to the business world as well. This, we often forget. Thanks for joining me, and have a great day.
*My friends, I am in no way a paid promoter of the Mozilla Corporation, or the Firefox Browser, or any other company. My goal and intent is to tell you of my experience, and to let you know what’s really going on behind the scenes. As you well know, our goal is to promote a positive and forward movement for all. This we can do.
All my love and support, be well