Chrome's Manifest V3 transition is here. First up are warnings for any V2 extensions.

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.
  • kyle@lemm.eeEnglish
    7·
    6 months ago

    To my shame, I’m still deeply ingrained in the Google ecosystem. I settled on it like 8-10 years ago and I’m not sure how to dig myself out of this pit. More than Chrome, I heavily use Docs, Sheets, Drive, Wallet, YouTube, Gmail, I even have a Pixel (I hate how bloated Samsung is).

    I’ve used Firefox a little for work because of the nice containers feature. Is Google Drive bad too? It’s so easy to share things, I torrent a lot of books and I’ve shared with a bunch of friends, idk if there’s an alternative that others could easily use.

    • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      15·
      6 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.

    • AnActOfCreation@programming.devOPEnglish
      15·
      6 months ago

      Don’t fret, I think a lot of us are on a long-term journey to de-Google. I’ve actually found that changing browsers is one of the easiest things to do, especially with the ability to import your bookmarks and such. With Firefox Sync, you pretty much have the same functionality as you would with your Google account signed into Chrome.

      • TipRing@lemmy.worldEnglish
        5·
        6 months ago

        Gmail is probably the hardest one to kick. I’m fine with paying for an email service if it’s functional and doesn’t siphon my personal data, but finding a quality trustworthy provider and then migrating 20 years of data to it seems so overwhelming.

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          4·
          6 months ago

          Why do you need to migrate 20 years of data? Do you actually look at anything more than a month or two old?

          That said, Protonmail has “Easy Switch” to copy emails and whatnot.

          The harder part for me is Drive, since there just isn’t a competitor that’s anywhere near as good in terms of overall experience. I’m going to try out OnlyOffice, but I know there are a few features I just won’t have anymore.

          • TipRing@lemmy.worldEnglish
            2·
            6 months ago

            I do occasionally need something from 10 or even 15 years ago, needing the exact date I sold a property or started a new project or even just jogging my memory of an old contact I am reaching again. While none of this is strictly necessary, I could make do without it if I had to, it does create inertia.

            I really need to check out Proton, Google is just getting worse and worse and the sooner I can get away from their ecosystem the better.

          • ghost_towels@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
            2·
            6 months ago

            Oh my gosh thank you!! I need this exact thing but hadn’t gotten around to figuring out a solution. Much appreciated!!

        • ruse8145@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
          1·
          6 months ago

          Several practical solutions here but the simplest is probably to start with thunderbird on your home computer. That way storage limit shouldn’t be a worry and you can see if you find it searchable/usable enough. If so, you can do a Google takeout as a long term canonical archive, do a thunderbird backup to easily switch computers when the time comes, and then sign up for a privacy friendly service.

          I bought into proton for a bit but am very very against how they bundled their services and switched my mail to posteo, which i have had no issues with in the last 1.5 years or so. Tutanota was fine but firmly a third place opt for me. I also prefer posteo because I’m anti-magic: posteo has tons of options which can get you to same or better security than proton, but it doesn’t “just work” like protons security does. Both are great.

    • 𝓔𝓶𝓶𝓲𝓮@lemm.eeEnglish
      21·
      6 months ago

      I did it by selling soul to apple completely, I mean I am not going to peddle another company but at least it isn’t google. However I can afford to throw some cash on their overpriced stuff. They suck but at least they aren’t google. I don’t use any google services right now. Not even maps. Without any cons because obviously I just use apple stuff for everything wallet etc

      I could use framework laptop linux + graphene os but I need to live and thrive among ppl and also get that sweet social credit for not being a total nerd that yells about evil corps and how I have superior privacy in the basement left and right. However I would if it was socially acceptable.