I’m always asked what I use to keep my data private and secure. I’ve compiled the following recommended tech, which I’ll continuously update. Some of these suggestions might be a bit techie and may not fit everyone’s level of consumer polish. Learning how technology works and taking control of it is integral to becoming a true Data Overhauler. 😉
Software
| Software | Replace This | With This | Complete Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows | Linux Mint (or any Linux distribution), Apple OSX | Yes |
| Productivity Software | Microsoft Office | LibreOffice, FreeOffice | Yes |
| Browser | Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Apple Safari | Firefox, Brave, Tor Browser | Yes |
| Digital Notebook | Microsoft OneNote, Google Keep, Apple Notes | Joplin, Turtl | Yes |
| Password Manager | your brain/memory, sticky note on your monitor, your phone’s address book etc | Bitwarden, a KeePass Client, 1Password (commercial) | Yes |
| Two-Factor Authentication | not using it, codes sent via SMS | Aegis, FreeOTP, AndOTP, Nitrokey, YubiKey | Yes |
| PDF Reading | Adobe Acrobat Reader | Your browser | Yes |
| PDF Editing | Adobe Acrobat | Master PDF Editor (not OSS) | Yes |
Services
| Service | Replace This | With This | Complete Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Email, Calendar, Contacts | Gmail, iCloud, Outlook, etc | Proton, Tutanota, Mailfence, Disroot, Nextcloud | Yes |
| Online Storage | Google Drive, Amazon Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, etc | Nextcloud, Internxt, Keybase, or use Cryptomator | Yes |
| Bookmark Syncing | Google Chrome, Apple Safari | Brave | Yes |
| Printing | Google Cloud Print | WiFi or USB | Almost |
| Music | Google Play Music, Spotify, Pandora | Plex | No |
| VPN | Private Internet Access PIA | Mullvad, Tor Browser, ProtonVPN | Yes |
| Search Engine | Google, Bing | DuckDuckGo, Qwant, Searx | Mostly |
| Credit Card | Giving your credit card number | Privacy.com | Yes |
| Video Conferencing | Zoom, Join.me, WebEx, Microsoft Teams | Jitsi Meet | Yes |
| Mobile Phone Service | AT&T, T-mobile, Verizon, etc | Prepaid providers like Mint Mobile or Silent Link | Yes |
| Video Streaming | YouTube | Invidious & LBRY | Yes |
Hardware & Networking
| Hardware/Network | Replace This | With This | Complete Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laptop | most consumer laptops | Purism Librem Laptops, Apple laptops with attention to configuration | Yes |
| WiFi Router | Google WiFi, your provider’s router | anonabox, FlashRouters | Yes |
| Home Assistant/ Automation | Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomePod | Don’t use these, but maybe Mycroft | No |
| DNS | Your ISP’s or Google’s DNS | NextDNS | Yes (WAY better) |
Mobile
| Hardware/App | Replace This | With This | Complete Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphone | Apple iPhone, most commercial Android-based phones | CalyxOS, GrapheneOS, Purism Librem Phone, Pinephone | Almost |
| Messaging | iMessage, Android Messages | Signal, Briar, Jami | Yes |
| Browser | Chrome, Safari | Brave, Bromite, Firefox Focus/Klar | Yes |
| Keyboard | Gboard | AnySoftKeyboard, Grammarly | Mostly |
| WiFi manager | Not using one | WiFi Automatic | Yes |
| VPN | Google or others | Mullvad, Tor Browser, ProtonVPN, Wireguard (with trusted VPN) | Yes |
| App Firewall | Not using one | TrackerControl, NetGuard, Lockdown | Yes |
| Weather | Google Weather, WeatherBug, etc | Forecastie or OpenWeather | Yes |
| PDF & Book reading, TTS | Adobe, iBooks, Foxit | Librera PRO | Yes |
| Audiobook | Smart AudioBook Player, Listen Audiobook Player | Voice | Yes |
| Podcast | Anything from Google Play | AntennaPod | Yes |
| Android App Launcher | Your manufacturer’s launcher | KISS launcher, reviewed others | Yes |
| Email App | Gmail, Outlook | Nine Email, K-9 Mail, ProtonMail, Tutanota | Yes |
| Background Noise Generators for Focus and Productivity | White Noise, Sleepa, etc | Noice, Binaural Beats | Yes |
| Voice Recorder | built-in | Voice Recorder, Audio Recorder | Yes |
| Location Services | Google Maps or Apple Find My | Hauk, OpenTracks | Mostly |
Want More Recommendations?
Throughout this blog, I’m constantly referring to other resources, channels, etc., in the industry. Explore more with me:
Tools We Use To Bring You This Site
| Tool | What it does | |
|---|---|---|
| Missinglettr | Generate creative social media posts and schedule their release on Twitter, Mastodon, and other social networks. | |
| Beacon | Produce beautiful guides, checklists, e-books, etc. using existing blog entries or easily create from scratch. | |
| RelayThat | Create eye-catching thumbnails for videos and social media, along with informative infographics. | |
| Grammarly | Forge consistent compositions with industry-leading grammar checking and plagiarism detection. Mostly open-source alternative: LanguageTool | |
| Dreamstime | Hunt down the perfect illustration, photo, or video for your projects. | |
| Happy Scribe | Create amazingly accurate subtitles and transcripts for your videos with a blazingly fast editor that includes multi-language translations. | |
| Wise | Easiest online business bank for storing and transferring multiple currencies. I use these guys for personal and business banking. | |
| YNAB | Yes, You Need A Budget can handle your business books too. I use the Profit First method with it. | |
| Ezoic | Accelerates website performance and includes AI-powered display advertising. |