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• The Ultimate List of Alternatives to Google Products

  2 août 2022, par Erin — Privacy

  For many businesses, Google products can play an integral part in the productivity, function and even success of the company. This is because Google has designed their digital ecosystem to infiltrate every aspect of your work and personal life at low-to-no cost.

  On the surface, this seems like a no-brainer. Why not have a cost-effective and seamlessly connected tech stack ? It’s the complete package. 

  From Gmail to Google Analytics, it becomes hard to untangle yourself from this intricate web Google has managed to spin. But like a web, you know there’s also a catch.

  This leads us to the big question… Why stop ?

  In this blog, we’ll cover :

  Why de-Google ?

  Google products are convenient and seemingly free. However, in recent years, Google’s name has become synonymous with privacy breaches, data leaks and illegal under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

  As their track record shows a glaring disregard for data protection, a growing list of EU member countries like Austria, France, Denmark and Italy have banned Google products, such as Google Analytics, Google Workspace and Google Chromebook.

  Google offers free products and services, but not out of altruism. There’s a trade-off. By using Google’s “free” products, your customers’ and your own online activity becomes a commodity that can be sold to advertisers.

  When the risks of using Google products are considered, it becomes clear the need to plot a pathway to de-Google your business. If you’re wondering how in the world to uncoil from this web, fortunately, there are plenty of privacy-friendly, secure alternatives to Google products that you can choose.

  Disclaimer : Below, we’ve tried our best to provide a comprehensive list of alternatives to Google products for businesses, but because you know your business best, we’d also encourage you to do your own research to ensure the tool will suit your unique needs.

  Best Google alternative tools for business

  Overall business tools

  Google Workspace alternatives

  Google Workspace isn’t GDPR compliant by default, so businesses are at risk of fines and reputational damage. More EU countries are reaching the same conclusion that Google products are violating EU law. Data Protection Authorities from Norway and Denmark have deemed Google Workspace illegal in accordance with the GDPR. 

  Nextcloud

  Nextcloud is an open-source and self-hosted productivity platform that offers a suite of services to replace the major features found in Google Workspace, such as Google Drive, Calendar, Docs, Forms and Tasks. 

  You can share files and collaborate without worrying about data being shared with unauthorised individuals or companies. As a self-hosted suite, you’re in full control of where your data is, who has access to it and can comply with the strictest of data protection legislations.

  

  Zoho

  Zoho is a Google Workspace alternative built on the same principles as Google’s productivity suite. It offers a suite of online office tools, including email, calendar and task management, but with an emphasis on privacy protection. Zoho doesn’t rely on advertising revenue to support their business which means your personal data will never be sold or used for targeted ads. 

  With over 75 million users globally, Zoho offers data encryption at rest and at transit, multi-factor authentication and complies with strict security standards set by HIPAA, the Cloud Security Alliance and the GDPR.

  

  Gmail alternatives

  Google only encrypts emails via STARTTLS. In other words, your data isn’t end-to-end encrypted and can be decrypted by them at any time. Gmail also has a history of allowing third-party app developers that work with Gmail to access private and personal Gmail messages for their own market research purposes.

  ProtonMail

  ProtonMail is a secure, open-source email service that provides end-to-end encryption, so only the sender and receiver can access the messages. Proton deliberately doesn’t possess the key needed to decrypt any part of the message, so you know your sensitive business information is always private. 

  To protect users from digital surveillance, they also provide enhanced tracking protections and don’t rely on ads, so your data isn’t mined for advertising purposes. Not only that, you can also sync ProtonMail with a host of other Google alternative products, such as Proton Calendar and Proton Drive.

  

  Mailfence

  Mailfence is a highly secure communications and planning platform that offers a complete email suite, as well as, Documents, a Calendar and Groups. It provides end-to-end encryption and comes with a built-in data loss prevention system that prevents unauthorised access to your sensitive information. 

  Mailfence is completely ad-free and promises to never commercialise its databases or share data with third parties for targeted ads.

  

  Tutanota

  Tutanota is an open-source email service known as one of the first to offer end-to-end encryption. It boasts a user-friendly interface and offers a fast, simple and secure email service that works on web and mobile platforms. Stringent security, in addition to TOTP and U2F for two-factor authentication means you control who has access to your email and messages. 

  It requires no phone number or personal information to register for a free account. In addition, Tutanota doesn’t earn money through ads, its servers are based in Europe and it is fully GDPR compliant.

  

  Google Calendar alternatives

  Calendars can contain a lot of personal information (who you are meeting, location, contact info, etc.), which is well worth keeping private. 

  Proton Calendar

  With Proton Calendar all event details – participants, locations, event names, descriptions and notes are end-to-end encrypted. It has a clean and easy-to-use interface, and you get a full set of advanced features to replace Google Calendar, such as the ability to create events and reminders, add multiple calendars and set up repeating events. You can easily sync all your calendars between mobile and desktop apps.

  

  Mailfence Calendar

  Mailfence Calendar lets you manage, schedule and track your events and meetings. Similar to Google Calendar, you can invite people to events using their Mailfence email IDs, but it doesn’t track your location or email address.

  

  Tutanota Calendar

  Tutanota Calendar offers built-in encryption, so no one else can decrypt and read your information.

  You can keep track of your appointments and meetings in a secure environment that only you have access to. You get features, such as day/week/month view, all-day events, recurring events, upcoming events view and shared calendars. You can also sync it with other apps such as Outlook.

  

  Nextcloud Calendar app

  Nextcloud also offers a Calendar app which easily syncs events from different devices with your Nextcloud account. You can integrate it with other Nextcloud apps like Contacts, Talk and Tasks.

  

  Google Drive alternatives

  The GDPR emphasises end-to-end encryption as a safeguard against data leaks, but Google Drive isn’t end-to-end encrypted, so Google has access to the data on its servers. 

  In their privacy policy, they also state that this data can be analysed for advertising purposes, so although you’re using “free” Cloud storage, users need to be aware that they’re paying for this by giving Google access to any and all data stored in Google Drive.

  Proton Drive

  Proton Drive is a secure and private Cloud storage service that provides you with an easy-to-use, customisable and secure file management system.

  It uses end-to-end encryption to secure your data and keep it safe from prying eyes. As you have full control over your data, you can decide how long it’s stored and who has access to it. You can also choose how much of your information is shared with other users.

  

  Nextcloud

  Nextcloud works on your own server, so you can access and share your data wherever you are. It’s a file hosting service that lets you store files, sync them across your devices and collaborate with others on projects. 

  It also provides encryption for all the files that you store on its servers, so you can rest assured that no one can see your information without your permission.

  

  Syncthing

  Syncthing is a free, open-source file synchronisation program that allows you to store and access your files wherever you are. It’s designed to be fast, secure and easy to use, making it a great alternative to Google Drive. 

  With Syncthing, you can sync files across multiple computers and mobile devices at once. So if you create, delete or modify files on one machine, they will automatically be replicated on other devices. Data is saved directly to a location you choose, so you can securely backup your data without needing a third-party cloud service.

  Google Docs alternatives

  Google states they can “collect information” from Google-hosted content such as Docs by means of automated scanning. 

  Not only does this stoke spying fears, it also raises concerns over who holds power over your content. If they look through your docs and decide that you’ve violated their terms of service, you can get locked out of your Google Docs – as was the case when a National Geographic crime reporter had her story “frozen” by Google.

  LibreOffice

  LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite with all the features you need to create and edit documents, presentations and spreadsheets. It’s compatible with many different languages and all Microsoft Office file formats. 

  Unlike Google Docs, LibreOffice doesn’t store your documents on the Cloud. As it runs on your own computer, you maintain complete control and the data is kept as private and as secure as you wish. LibreOffice also has an online version that works with most web browsers and can be used on Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. 

  The open-source nature ensures security as the code is constantly improved and scouted for vulnerabilities.

  

  Nextcloud Office

  Like Google Docs, Nextcloud Office lets you create new documents and spreadsheets and collaborate with teammates or colleagues. But unlike Google Docs, Nextcloud doesn’t collect any data on who is using its platform, or what they’re doing on it. You can even encrypt the files you store in Nextcloud, so no one else can see them unless you give them access to your account.

  

  Google Keep alternative

  Standard Notes

  Standard Notes is an open-source online notebook app that offers a variety of useful features, such as tasks, to-dos and spreadsheets. 

  Unlike Google Keep, which has access to your notes, Standard Notes is end-to-end encrypted, which protects all your information and keeps it securely synced across all your devices. Standard Notes supports text, images and audio notes. As open-source software, they value transparency and trust and don’t rely on tracking or intrusive ads.

  

  Google Chrome alternatives

  Google Chrome is notorious for stalking users and collecting information for their own gains. Their browser fuels their data gathering infrastructure by being able to collect info about your search history, location, personal data and product interaction data for “personalisation” purposes – essentially to build a profile of you to sell to advertisers.

  Firefox

  Firefox is one of the most secure browsers for privacy and is trusted by 220 million users. It easily compares with Chrome in terms of ease of use and performance. 

  On top of that it offers enhanced privacy protections, so you get a browser that doesn’t stalk you and isn’t riddled with ads.

  

• What's the most desireable way to capture system display and audio in the form of individual encoded audio and video packets in go (language) ? [closed]

  11 janvier 2023, par Tiger Yang

  Question (read the context below first) :

  


  For those of you familiar with the capabilities of go, Is there a better way to go about all this ? Since ffmpeg is so ubiquitous, I'm sure it's been optomized to perfection, but what's the best way to capture system display and audio in the form of individual encoded audio and video packets in go (language), so that they can be then sent via webtransport-go ? I wish for it to prioritize efficiency and low latency, and ideally capture and encode the framebuffer directly like ffmpeg does.

  


  Thanks ! I have many other questions about this, but I think it's best to ask as I go.

  


  Context and what I've done so far :

  


  I'm writing a remote desktop software for my personal use because of grievances with current solutions out there. At the moment, it consists of a web app that uses the webtransport API to send input datagrams and receive AV packets on two dedicated unidirectional streams, and the webcodecs API to decode these packets. On the serverside, I originally planned to use python with the aioquic library as a webtransport server. Upon connection and authentication, the server would start ffmpeg as a subprocess with this command :

  


  ffmpeg -init_hw_device d3d11va -filter_complex ddagrab=video_size=1920x1080:framerate=60 -vcodec hevc_nvenc -tune ll -preset p7 -spatial_aq 1 -temporal_aq 1 -forced-idr 1 -rc cbr -b:v 400K -no-scenecut 1 -g 216000 -f hevc -

  


  What I really appreciate about this is that it uses windows' desktop duplication API to copy the framebuffer of my GPU and hand that directly to the on-die hardware encoder with zero round trips to the CPU. I think it's about as efficient and elegant a solution as I can manage. It then outputs the encoded stream to the stdout, which python can read and send to the client.

  


  As for the audio, there is another ffmpeg instance :

  


  ffmpeg -f dshow -channels 2 -sample_rate 48000 -sample_size 16 -audio_buffer_size 15 -i audio="RD Audio (High Definition Audio Device)" -acodec libopus -vbr on -application audio -mapping_family 0 -apply_phase_inv true -b:a 25K -fec false -packet_loss 0 -map 0 -f data -

  


  which listens to a physical loopback interface, which is literally just a short wire bridging the front panel headphone and microphone jacks (I'm aware of the quality loss of converting to analog and back, but the audio is then crushed down to 25kbps so it's fine) ()

  


  Unfortunately, aioquic was not easy to work with IMO, and I found webtransport-go https://github.com/adriancable/webtransport-go, which was a hell of a lot better in both simplicity and documentation. However, now I'm dealing with a whole new language, and I wanna ask : (above)

  


  EDIT : Here's the code for my server so far :

  


  


  


  package main

import (
    "bytes"
    "context"
    "fmt"
    "log"
    "net/http"
    "os/exec"
    "time"

    "github.com/adriancable/webtransport-go"
)

func warn(str string) {
    fmt.Printf("\n===== WARNING ===================================================================================================\n   %s\n=================================================================================================================\n", str)
}

func main() {

    password := []byte("abc")

    videoString := []string{
        "ffmpeg",
        "-init_hw_device", "d3d11va",
        "-filter_complex", "ddagrab=video_size=1920x1080:framerate=60",
        "-vcodec", "hevc_nvenc",
        "-tune", "ll",
        "-preset", "p7",
        "-spatial_aq", "1",
        "-temporal_aq", "1",
        "-forced-idr", "1",
        "-rc", "cbr",
        "-b:v", "500K",
        "-no-scenecut", "1",
        "-g", "216000",
        "-f", "hevc", "-",
    }

    audioString := []string{
        "ffmpeg",
        "-f", "dshow",
        "-channels", "2",
        "-sample_rate", "48000",
        "-sample_size", "16",
        "-audio_buffer_size", "15",
        "-i", "audio=RD Audio (High Definition Audio Device)",
        "-acodec", "libopus",
        "-mapping_family", "0",
        "-b:a", "25K",
        "-map", "0",
        "-f", "data", "-",
    }

    connected := false

    http.HandleFunc("/", func(writer http.ResponseWriter, request *http.Request) {
        session := request.Body.(*webtransport.Session)

        session.AcceptSession()
        fmt.Println("\nAccepted incoming WebTransport connection.")
        fmt.Println("Awaiting authentication...")

        authData, err := session.ReceiveMessage(session.Context()) // Waits here till first datagram
        if err != nil {                                            // if client closes connection before sending anything
            fmt.Println("\nConnection closed:", err)
            return
        }

        if len(authData) >= 2 && bytes.Equal(authData[2:], password) {
            if connected {
                session.CloseSession()
                warn("Client has authenticated, but a session is already taking place! Connection closed.")
                return
            } else {
                connected = true
                fmt.Println("Client has authenticated!\n")
            }
        } else {
            session.CloseSession()
            warn("Client has failed authentication! Connection closed. (" + string(authData[2:]) + ")")
            return
        }

        videoStream, _ := session.OpenUniStreamSync(session.Context())

        videoCmd := exec.Command(videoString[0], videoString[1:]...)
        go func() {
            videoOut, _ := videoCmd.StdoutPipe()
            videoCmd.Start()

            buffer := make([]byte, 15000)
            for {
                len, err := videoOut.Read(buffer)
                if err != nil {
                    break
                }
                if len > 0 {
                    videoStream.Write(buffer[:len])
                }
            }
        }()

        time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)

        audioStream, err := session.OpenUniStreamSync(session.Context())

        audioCmd := exec.Command(audioString[0], audioString[1:]...)
        go func() {
            audioOut, _ := audioCmd.StdoutPipe()
            audioCmd.Start()

            buffer := make([]byte, 15000)
            for {
                len, err := audioOut.Read(buffer)
                if err != nil {
                    break
                }
                if len > 0 {
                    audioStream.Write(buffer[:len])
                }
            }
        }()

        for {
            data, err := session.ReceiveMessage(session.Context())
            if err != nil {
                videoCmd.Process.Kill()
                audioCmd.Process.Kill()

                connected = false

                fmt.Println("\nConnection closed:", err)
                break
            }

            if len(data) == 0 {

            } else if data[0] == byte(0) {
                fmt.Printf("Received mouse datagram: %s\n", data)
            }
        }

    })

    server := &webtransport.Server{
        ListenAddr: ":1024",
        TLSCert:    webtransport.CertFile{Path: "SSL/fullchain.pem"},
        TLSKey:     webtransport.CertFile{Path: "SSL/privkey.pem"},
        QuicConfig: &webtransport.QuicConfig{
            KeepAlive:      false,
            MaxIdleTimeout: 3 * time.Second,
        },
    }

    fmt.Println("Launching WebTransport server at", server.ListenAddr)
    ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
    if err := server.Run(ctx); err != nil {
        log.Fatal(err)
        cancel()
    }

}

  


  


  



• Banking Data Strategies – A Primer to Zero-party, First-party, Second-party and Third-party data

  25 octobre 2024, par Daniel Crough — Banking and Financial Services, Privacy

  Banks hold some of our most sensitive information. Every transaction, loan application, and account balance tells a story about their customers’ lives. Under GDPR and banking regulations, protecting this information isn’t optional – it’s essential.

  Yet banks also need to understand how customers use their services to serve them better. The solution lies in understanding different types of banking data and how to handle each responsibly. From direct customer interactions to market research, each data source serves a specific purpose and requires its own privacy controls.

  Before diving into how banks can use each type of data effectively, let’s look into the key differences between them :

  Data Type	What It Is	Banking Example	Legal Considerations
  First-party	Data from direct customer interactions with your services	Transaction records, service usage patterns	Different legal bases apply (contract, legal obligation, legitimate interests)
  Zero-party	Information customers actively provide	Stated preferences, financial goals	Requires specific legal basis despite being voluntary ; may involve profiling
  Second-party	Data shared through formal partnerships	Insurance history from partners	Must comply with PSD2 and specific data sharing regulations
  Third-party	Data from external providers	Market analysis, demographic data	Requires due diligence on sources and specific transparency measures

  What is first-party data ?

  

  First-party data reveals how customers actually use your banking services. When someone logs into online banking, withdraws money from an ATM, or speaks with customer service, they create valuable information about real banking habits.

  This direct interaction data proves more reliable than assumptions or market research because it shows genuine customer behaviour. Banks need specific legal grounds to process this information. Basic banking services fall under contractual necessity, while fraud detection is required by law. Marketing activities need explicit customer consent. The key is being transparent with customers about what information you process and why.

  Start by collecting only what you need for each specific purpose. Store information securely and give customers clear control through privacy settings. This approach builds trust while helping meet privacy requirements under the GDPR’s data minimisation principle.

  What is zero-party data ?

  

  Zero-party data emerges when customers actively share information about their financial goals and preferences. Unlike first-party data, which comes from observing customer behaviour, zero-party data comes through direct communication. Customers might share their retirement plans, communication preferences, or feedback about services.

  Interactive tools create natural opportunities for this exchange. A retirement calculator helps customers plan their future while revealing their financial goals. Budget planners offer immediate value through personalised advice. When customers see clear benefits, they’re more likely to share their preferences.

  However, voluntary sharing doesn’t mean unrestricted use. The ICO’s guidance on purpose limitation applies even to freely shared information. Tell customers exactly how you’ll use their data, document specific reasons for collecting each piece of information, and make it simple to update or remove personal data.

  Regular reviews help ensure you still need the information customers have shared. This aligns with both GDPR requirements and customer expectations about data management. By treating voluntary information with the same care as other customer data, banks build lasting trust.

  What is second-party data ?

  

  Second-party data comes from formal partnerships between banks and trusted companies. For example, a bank might work with an insurance provider to better understand shared customers’ financial needs.

  These partnerships need careful planning to protect customer privacy. The ICO’s Data Sharing Code provides clear guidelines : both organisations must agree on what data they’ll share, how they’ll protect it, and how long they’ll keep it before any sharing begins.

  Transparency builds trust in these arrangements. Tell customers about planned data sharing before it happens. Explain what information you’ll share and how it helps provide better services.

  Regular audits help ensure both partners maintain high privacy standards. Review shared data regularly to confirm it’s still necessary and properly protected. Be ready to adjust or end partnerships if privacy standards slip. Remember that your responsibility to protect customer data extends to information shared with partners.

  Successful partnerships balance improved service with diligent privacy protection. When done right, they help banks understand customer needs better while maintaining the trust that makes banking relationships work.

  What is third-party data ?

  

  Third-party data comes from external sources outside your bank and its partners. Market research firms, data analytics companies, and economic research organizations gather and sell this information to help banks understand broader market trends.

  This data helps fill knowledge gaps about the wider financial landscape. For example, third-party data might reveal shifts in consumer spending patterns across different age groups or regions. It can show how customers interact with different financial services or highlight emerging banking preferences in specific demographics.

  But third-party data needs careful evaluation before use. Since your bank didn’t collect this information directly, you must verify both its quality and compliance with privacy laws. Start by checking how providers collected their data and whether they had proper consent. Look for providers who clearly document their data sources and collection methods.

  Quality varies significantly among third-party data providers. Some key questions to consider before purchasing :

  • How recent is the data ?
  • How was it collected ?
  • What privacy protections are in place ?
  • How often is it updated ?
  • Which specific market segments does it cover ?

  Consider whether third-party data will truly add value beyond your existing information. Many banks find they can gain similar insights by analysing their first-party data more effectively. If you do use third-party data, document your reasons for using it and be transparent about your data sources.

  Creating your banking data strategy

  

  A clear data strategy helps your bank collect and use information effectively while protecting customer privacy. This matters most with first-party data – the information that comes directly from your customers’ banking activities.

  Start by understanding what data you already have. Many banks collect valuable information through everyday transactions, website visits, and customer service interactions. Review these existing data sources before adding new ones. Often, you already have the insights you need – they just need better organization.

  Map each type of data to a specific purpose. For example, transaction data might help detect fraud and improve service recommendations. Website analytics could reveal which banking features customers use most. Each data point should serve a clear business purpose while respecting customer privacy.

  Strong data quality standards support better decisions. Create processes to update customer information regularly and remove outdated records. Check data accuracy often and maintain consistent formats across your systems. These practices help ensure your insights reflect reality.

  Remember that strategy means choosing what not to do. You don’t need to collect every piece of data possible. Focus on information that helps you serve customers better while maintaining their privacy.

  Managing multiple data sources

  

  Banks work with many types of data – from direct customer interactions to market research. Each source serves a specific purpose, but combining them effectively requires careful planning and precise attention to regulations like GDPR and ePrivacy.

  First-party data forms your foundation. It shows how your customers actually use your services and what they need from their bank. This direct interaction data proves most valuable because it reflects real behaviour rather than assumptions. When customers check their balances, transfer money, or apply for loans, they show you exactly how they use banking services.

  Zero-party data adds context to these interactions. When customers share their financial goals or preferences directly, they help you understand the “why” behind their actions. This insight helps shape better services. For example, knowing a customer plans to buy a house helps you offer relevant savings tools or mortgage information at the right time.

  Second-party partnerships can fill specific knowledge gaps. Working with trusted partners might reveal how customers manage their broader financial lives. But only pursue partnerships when they offer clear value to customers. Always explain these relationships clearly and protect shared information carefully.

  Third-party data helps provide market context, but use it selectively. External market research can highlight broader trends or opportunities. However, this data often proves less reliable than information from direct customer interactions. Consider it a supplement to, not a replacement for, your own customer insights.

  Keep these principles in mind when combining data sources :

  • Prioritize direct customer interactions
  • Focus on information that improves services
  • Maintain consistent privacy standards across sources
  • Document where each insight comes from
  • Review regularly whether each source adds value
  • Work with privacy and data experts to ensure customer information is handled properly

  Enhance your web analytics strategy with Matomo

  

  The financial sector finds powerful and compliant web analytics increasingly valuable as it navigates data management and privacy regulations. Matomo provides a configurable privacy-centric solution that meets the requirements of banks and financial institutions.

  Matomo empowers your organisation to :

  • Collect accurate, GDPR-compliant web data
  • Integrate web analytics with your existing tools and platforms
  • Maintain full control over your analytics data
  • Gain insights without compromising user privacy

  Matomo is trusted by some of the world’s biggest banks and financial institutions. Try Matomo for free for 30 days to see how privacy-focused analytics can get you the insights you need while maintaining compliance and user trust.