It's no secret companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Google have made our lives easier. As convenient as the top tech dogs are, they aren't very private or secure. Let's look at the best big-tech alternatives to master your privacy.
Operating System
Windows and macOS are the most common operating systems. But they love sharing your data with third parties. For example, Windows 11 has forced ads by default, and it sends all your data to Microsoft servers.
Also, hackers have spent decades developing code for these operating systems because people use them the most. Just because things are familiar, doesn’t mean they are the safest or the most private.
Linux is the best big-tech alternative for operating systems out there. There are hundreds of free "distros" you can install.
Most of these distros hardly have any tracking or ads and are completely custom. If you just want to install an OS with a calculator and a web browser, you can do that.
Linux won't overload your system with bloatware or spyware, and you don't need a high-powered computer to run it.
Linux Mint is a great choice for those trying to jump from Windows, and elementaryOS is an option for macOS users.
Web Browsing
Browsers like Chrome dominate internet usage. Google has made a habit of tracking browser history, location, and more.
Two of the better big-tech alternatives for web browsing are Brave and LibreWolf.
Brave is a Chromium-based browser privacy browser that blocks ads, fingerprinting, and ad trackers by default.
Chromium is the open-source code from Google that Chrome is based on. However, Brave has removed a ton of Google code from its version to protect user privacy.
This privacy browser comes with a tool for upgrading unsecured connections to HTTPS, cookie blocking, and fingerprinting.
There is strong protection against malware and phishing, and a built-in Tor browser.
LibreWolf is a fork of Firefox focused on privacy, security, and freedom. It operates just like Firefox, but it removes telemetry - automatic collection and transmission of data.
It's built with private search engines like Searx and Qwant. LibreWolf is very lightweight because it cuts out bloat from the original Firefox code.
And like Brave, it comes with an ad blocker out of the box.
Video Conferencing
Zoom collects a ton of data on you including your name, physical address, email address, phone number, job title, and employer.
Even if you don't create an account, it knows what type of device you're using and your IP address.
Jitsi Meet is a free and open-source Zoom alternative. All you need to do is visit the website, start a call, and send your contacts a link to the meeting.
It supports end-to-end encryption on nearly every browser. Jitsi Meet does not require users to create accounts. Any information you put in is completely optional.
Brave has launched a Zoom alternative built directly into the Brave browser – Brave Talk. It’s run on Jitsi’s open-source code.
To start a call, all you have to do is click the camera icon in Brave, or visit talk.brave.com to launch a video call. You don’t need to download any additional apps or extensions.
In addition to its privacy features, Brave Talk also includes video group watch, YouTube live streaming, and unlimited call times for free users.
Wrapping Up
If you're looking for a way to drop Windows or macOS, consider Linux. Ubuntu and Linux Mint are some of the popular ones, but there are hundreds you can pick from.
DistroWatch.com is a great resource if you want to research different distros or keep up to date on new ones.
Make your internet browsing private again with Brave or LibreWolf. Add a VPN for an extra boost.
For those conference calls or stream sessions, take a look at Jitsi Meet or Brave Talk.
Once you've decided on your big-tech alternatives, keep your computer secure with a solid antivirus program. And stay up to date on the latest cyber security news!
