Thanks for your comment! I’m fairly new at this myself…I started degoogling, etc. maybe 2-3 years ago.

If it helps, this article has info on a service that lets you buy throwaway numbers for verifying accounts. I used it once and it worked, and cost only a couple bucks: How to Verify an Account Without Using Your Real Phone Number

I think you only need your number to verify Signal, right? If that’s the case, this could work. (Or can you use your MySudo number?) I hope it helps, and hope to see you in the group!

Sounds like you are a lot more advanved than me!

Yes, those look amazing and are next on my list!

Hi there! We’ll be following the checklist I linked to in the main post. It will be very casual, and we’ll all just do the best we can!

Appreciate it! If this goes well I might do a de-Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, or something else…or run this one again.

Thank you!

I’m only about 3/4 of the way through but I love it! I’m on a trip, but as soon as I get back I can’t wait to try this. I’ll also share it with some groups I’m in. THANK YOU.

We should even make a video where I interview you on some of these things for a MUCH less techie audience. There are a LOT of retired people I know who have money, they have time, and they hate what’s happening here…but I would never be able to convince them to do some of this stuff. And these people are ignored!

What do you think? I could ask the most very basic questions on why this is important, how to make it as simple as possible, etc. (I’m a semi-retired journalist so I have LOTS of experience interviewing. :)

I hope you’ll join my 5-week degoogle challenge! https://signal.group/#CjQKIPfv-Xa5mSVIES2Rwx5-8tQHT8wgADjmXXAp6Glu23V-EhCM50toN-KpLV4lXJg1TM3Q

Wow, thank you! I’ll check it out later!

Thanks! I recommended SimpleSearch because it’s good for people who can’t/don’t want to stop using Googl Search.

Fixed, thanks!

Thanks for the tips! Yeah, it’s hard to know where to draw the line, but since I’m focused on beginners, I figured these tools/platforms were the basics.

Good idea to bundle mail and calendar. I can do that with a few tweaks. And will fix the extra mention of uninstalling Chrome.

Thanks again!

Thank you…I’m CERTAIN I’ll need help!

May I suggest my free book DISENGAGE: Opting Out—and Finding New Options—to Reclaim Your Life from Spammers, Scammers, Intrusive Marketers and Big Tech?

I recommend the PDF because it has clear “try this now” actions and other sidebars. It’s written in a Dummies style (I used to write Dummies books and Idiot’s Guides. :)

Thanks! I de-Microsofted myself and have been using LibreOffice. Also don’t use Apple apps like Pages. I can switch other apps as needed.

Thank you! I wish I had sprung for the hardcopy edition of Extreme Privacy. I don’t have a rap sheet, I “have nothing to hide”…but it gives me a sense of peace feeling more in control of my data. (Oh, and I do run the Punching Up Press site, and I hope it doesn’t get to the point where I have to worry.

If I do something that actually lands me in the sights of the federal government, I’m sure it’s trivially easy for them to find me. I’m more anti-Big Tech, anti-surveillance out of principle, etc.

Because I already have a fairly new Mac. :) I bought it before I ever even thought of using a Linux OS.

Thanks! I had thought of that, but would like to hang on to my Mac. I just want it to be…not a Mac, I guess?

I considered cancelling my voter registration and then re-registering every election. However, the way things are going, I wonder if I will even be able to re-register in the future…

Thank you, this is just what I needed! Now I just need to figure out HOW to get it installed on my Mac. :)

This is amazing! Great information.

I read Extreme Privacy for fun…I don’t need to live totally under the radar. However, I’m tired of feeling/being tracked by Big Tech, having my data used inappropriately, etc. I managed to buy a used Pixel and install Graphene OS, but I’m stuck with my Mac until it dies. I’m also trying to divert my money away from Big Tech and unethical corporations like Amazon as much as I can. (Which I know is basically impossible, but I do what I can.)

I wrote a whole free book on the topic called DISENGAGE: Opting Out—and Finding New Options—to Reclaim Your Life from Spammers, Scammers, Intrusive Marketers and Big Tech. It’s meant for newbies (say, my mom) to light-medium tech savvy people like myself. (I’m a semi-retird journalist of 30 years and this was my passion project; you can read in there my motivation and how far I’ve gotten so far.)

I’m now trying to move into the more intensive privacy techniques, and they are often beyond my abilities. Switching to a more private OS is on my list.

I’ll look into this, thanks!