De-Googling My Devices:

Replacing Corporate Tracking Apps

Over the past few months, I’ve been actively working on removing corporate apps like Google and Samsung that track me, replacing them with open-source alternatives that respect my privacy and freedom. Here’s what I’ve been doing:

DAVx⁵: The Synchronization Backbone

DAVx⁵ is a synchronization app that bridges the gap between your email accounts and calendar/contact apps. It’s incredibly versatile and allows syncing with privacy-friendly apps like Simple Calendar Pro, avoiding default options like Google Calendar or Samsung Calendar (which would defeat the purpose of de-Googling).

Steps I Took:

Installed DAVx⁵ from Google Play Store or F-Droid.
Configured DAVx⁵ to connect with both my Gmail account and my Mailcow server.
Chose Simple Calendar Pro as my primary calendar app for displaying and managing events.

Thunderbird for Android: An Open-Source Email Solution

To manage my emails, I’ve switched to the Thunderbird Android App. I’ve also started contributing $20 USD annually to support its development and plan to align my business practices with this commitment. For every service Comfac-IT performs to migrate clients to Thunderbird, we’ll contribute 20% of the service fee to the Thunderbird project.

You can try Thunderbird for yourself: Thunderbird on Google Play.

Simple Calendar Pro: A Privacy-Respecting Calendar App

I replaced Google Calendar with Simple Calendar Pro, a lightweight and privacy-focused app that costs only 34 PHP (~0.6 USD). It’s highly customizable and works flawlessly with DAVx⁵ for calendar synchronization.

Try it here: Simple Calendar Pro on Google Play.

The Realities of Running a Business

While I’ve embraced these privacy-friendly tools, I know that most of the people in the company wouldn’t avoid tracking. The company primarily uses Gmail and Google Calendar clients. Mailcow and Nextcloud would be very disruptive to their workflow. The IT could get used to it, its their job to adapt to new software and systems. The balance between practicality and privacy is an ongoing challenge.

Remaining Challenges

1. Google Workspace Lock-In I’m struggling to close my Gameinthebrain.com Workspace. Google’s policies make it difficult to exit their ecosystem, and it’s no longer syncing correctly with my Synology CloudSync. Resolving this is a top priority.

2. Setting Up Mailcow and Nextcloud I’m working to properly configure and load-balance Mailcow and Nextcloud. For now, I’m considering investing in more Synology hardware, but long-term, my team plans to develop a plug-and-play MicroServer appliance for the Philippines. This device will run Mailcow and Nextcloud, making it easier for others to embrace open-source tools.

Why I’m Doing This

This transition isn’t just about my personal privacy; it’s about creating scalable solutions for others. By supporting open-source projects and building practical tools for the Philippine market, I’m hoping to make privacy-respecting technology more accessible and sustainable for everyone.

If you’re interested in de-Googling or have tips for overcoming the challenges I’ve mentioned, feel free to share your thoughts!

Game in the Brain