How One Person Replaced Big Tech Without Going Off the Grid

Written By Naomi Brockwell

Privacy Tools You Can Start Using Today.

Many people want to improve their privacy, but they don’t know what tools to use.

What’s the best email provider?
What’s the best note-taking app?
What’s the best phone?

The annoying answer is: it depends.

It depends on your threat model (what you’re protecting yourself from), your convenience threshold (how much friction you’ll actually tolerate), and what tradeoffs you’re willing to live with (how much you want to trust a company, how well a tool fits into your life, whether it works smoothly with the people you communicate with, etc.).

Sometimes I share specific tools that I use, in case it gives people ideas or a place to start. But the truth is, there isn’t one perfect stack. Different people have different setups, and that’s a good thing.

So today, I want to share a list of favorite tools from one of our community members, Incognito Cat. It’s a great overview of privacy-respecting alternatives you can swap into your life without feeling like you have to go off the grid. I’ve also added a few editor notes throughout with some other options I like, depending on what you’re optimizing for.

And if you have tools you love, drop them in the comments. The goal is simple: give people a bigger menu of tech that respects you as a user, so you’re not stuck in ecosystems that treat you like a data source.

Guest post by Incognito Cat:

Privacy Toolbox

Just starting your privacy journey or curious what others are using for theirs? This list was first developed in 2024 to get the conversation started and reflects our current Privacy Toolbox.

Is this a comprehensive list of all tool available in each category?
Not even close!

This toolbox represents a solution for the particulars of our use cases, as outlined in the Guiding Principles. And if you’re unfamiliar with what is available to replace the apps that shipped with your desktop or mobile device, this is a great place to start.

We only discuss tools and solutions that we have personal experience with and use on a regular basis. Since privacy is a journey and not a destination, this list has and will continue to evolve with time. The links for each website will be listed next to the tool, where applicable. If a “Privacy Tool Spotlight” is available, going into greater detail about the tool, the link is next to it.

Guiding Principles

  • Privacy Forward Alternatives: Solutions that preserve privacy by blocking trackers, data mining, and/or using end-to-end, zero-knowledge encryption.

  • Daily Use: I only recommend solutions that I personally use every day.

  • Support: If I’m not paying for it, I’m donating to its cause. I’m neither an employee, spokesman, or in any affiliate programs.

  • Usability: It should be as easy to use as any mainstream software it’s replacing, encouraging adoption by all. Even my in-laws.

  • Cross-Platform: It must run across Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS, and Android/GrapheneOS where applicable.

  • Bonus points: Free and open-source software (FOSS), available on F-Droid, and able to run without Google Play Services.

Keep in mind that...

The best privacy and security results rely on multiple tools working together.

Now to my ever-evolving toolbox:

(Editor note: Mullvad is only available on desktop. For a good comparison of browser privacy visit Privacy Tests)

(Editor note: having multiple browser extensions installed increases your attack surface, also makes you more easily fingerprintable. I recommend that the only browser extension you install be your password manager)

(Editor note: some other good options include Dashlane, Bitwarden, or if you want to store your passwords locally only, KeepassXC — but just be sure to have backups)

(Editor note: For Android and GrapheneOS, Aegis is also a good option)

(Editor note: the Yubico “YubiKey” is a specific model that supports multiple different protocols. The Yubico “Security Key” model is the cheapest option and sufficient for U2F)

(Editor note: SimpleX is a great decentralized tool, and we have an NBTV community chat on there, but keep in mind that it doesn’t have the same polish as Signal)

(Editor note: I use the collaborative docs and sheets in the Proton ecosystem also. They don’t have quite the same functionality as Google docs and sheets, but they have improved dramatically over the past year and are sufficient for my organization’s needs)

  • Alternative Email:

    • Tuta (Free tier available for testing | primary & backup email should be on secure & private services)

(Editor note: Startmail is another E2EE email that you can try)

(Editor note: Obsidian is also a useful note-taking app that you can sync privately across devices)

(Editor’s note: I automatically back up my photos to Proton drive with their automated backup feature, and find it simple and easy. My understanding that Ente is also simple, with added functionality for family album sharing.)

(Editor note: Google Maps is a difficult tool to replace. I like the tools above, but sometime there can be inaccuracies. You can always keep Google maps on a siloed profile on your GrapheneOS device for emergencies)

(Editor note: This is an example of a masked credit card. You need to KYC yourself to privacy.com, but using this service allows you to hide your real name, billing address, and real credit/debit card number from merchants, and it can also help shield where you shop from your bank.)

(Editor note: I also use MySudo for VoIP numbers)

(Editor note: In many cases you have to provide ID to removal services in order to use them. I recommend Michael Bazzel’s free workbook, that shows you how to remove your information yourself)

(Editor note: I encourage people to branch out and use alternatives to YouTube, such as Odysee, to create a network effect elsewhere. If there are videos you can only find on YouTube, you can at least use a more privacy-preserving front-end for YouTube. Invidious is one example of a open-source front-end, and Yewtu.be is one specific Invidious instance. Just keep in mind that you are trusting the instance operator with your searches.)

For my devices:

  • App Store:

    • F-Droid (F-Droid is a free and open-source app store and software repository for Android, but with a focus on free and open-source software [FOSS])

    • Aurora Store (Aurora Store is a privacy-focused alternative to the official Google Play Store application)

  • Privacy Screen Protector:

    • Various. As mobile screens get bigger and brighter, the easier they are for others to read at a distance. (🔎 Tool Spotlight)

Remember, we may not have anything to hide, but we have everything to protect.

- Incognito Cat

Final editor note: we don’t do show sponsors or have article sponsors. These are simply examples of privacy tools that Incognito Cat or I personally use. If you have suggestions for tools you love, please let everyone know in the comments!

Yours In Privacy,

Naomi


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NBTV. Because Privacy Matters.

Privacc.org

Naomi Brockwell
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