Good morning everyone. I am trying to work out whether I can abandon Google for Brave.
Let me explain : I have a Google account (gmail, photos, drive, calendar, contacts, etc).
I want to continue using Google tools, but I don’t want to use Chrome anymore.
Is there a safe and easy way to do this ?
If I use Brave and connect to Google do I lose the advantage of being on Brave ? I can’t understand and can’t find any explanation. In all the tutorials I only find basic information, I read that Brave is better, that it is safer etc, but I never read an answer to my precise question.
I have been using Brave for a long time, as I use DuckDuckgo, Safari and sometimes Tor.
If Brave had an ecosystem like Google (mail, Drive, photos, agenda etc) then it would be easier.
I am not paranoid, but I don’t like Google’s policy and have been looking for alternatives for a long time.
I use a Macbook air and an old Iphone SE first gen (yes, I am a dinosaur).
Do you have any advice for me ? Many thanks.
You can switch to Brave (we’ll even import your data from Chrome during the first-run experience at brave://welcome/. Brave will continue to protect you from Google as a third-party, meaning we will block them when and where possible.
If, however, you visit Google directly (as you will do for Drive, Gmail, and more), Brave is not able to offer much protection for your data during those sessions. Anything that is given directly to Google (e.g. uploaded to Google Photos, sent through Gmail) is beyond the protection offered by the Brave Browser.
You can switch to Brave (and use Brave Search instead of Google) for a considerably better and more private experience. You can continue to use Google services, knowing that they will not be able to track you or your data as you move about the open Internet.
First of all, thank you for your quick and precise reply.
I understand better now.
As I wrote before, I have already been using Brave for quite some time.
I just never managed to ‘make the leap’.
If Brave had an ecosystem like Google (mail, drive, photos, agenda and contacts) I would do it right away.
That’s why, for now, I’m using various systems, accounts, browsers.
I am using Brave more and more and I am satisfied with it.
I have no ‘fear’ of abandoning Google, I simply haven’t found the alternative to all the tools.
I have been using Google since the beginning and they were smart to come up with practical tools.
But Google is too inquisitive and intrusive and that no longer suits me.
I understood your answer. If I want to use Drive, or Photos or the Google calendar etc., I’ll log in but I’ll get out of Brave’s protection.
Anyway Brave I’m always using it with a VPN.
Maybe it’s still not enough?
If I understand correctly: I use Brave, I am protected. Then I want to connect to my Google Drive and my information is no longer protected (even with VPN ?) Then, I log out of Google Drive and come back protected ? Or do I have to close and reopen Brave ?
Thank you.
Anything you give to Google is within the reach of Google. For example, the following are all instances where you are giving data to Google:
- Sending an email through GMail
- Uploading and/or storing files on Google Drive
- Schedule appointments via Google Calendar
- Searching local movie times on Google
In all of these instances, you are navigating to a Google property, and willingly inserting data. Any data you directly give Google (or anybody else for that matter) is no longer protected by Brave.
Brave prevents your data from being harvested by third-parties. For example, if you go to a friends online forum, and type messages into there, Brave aims to protect you from any third-parties (such as Google scripts) which may normally be present on that domain.
Your VPN serves only to mask your location, but if you sign into a Gmail account, or do anything else which involves your identity online, you may be negating the benefits of using a VPN service in the first place.
I hope this helps!
Hello @tototata
there many trusted and privacy tools for all the tools that google has
for example proton offer mail calendar vpn drive they offer free 500 MB storage and of course you can buy extra storage and more feature
there many also offer other feature so you can search for them
hope that help and have a nice day
Everything is very clear.
Now I look forward to a Brave ecosystem.
I’ve been looking for a simple solution for years now and I don’t want to get lost with lots of little solutions.
They are very clever at Google, they invented a free system but the consequences for privacy are disastrous.
Maybe Apple would be better, but I have never managed to integrate their world perfectly.
I use iPhones and Macbooks, but I always got lost with their cloud, mail, Itune etc.
I think Brave could be the solution, waiting for them to evolve with a drive, photos system, agenda etc.
I have also tried Proton, but the work of changing to leave Goggle seems huge to me. Unfortunately many are like me. Maybe scared of change, definitely lazy…
Once again I want to thank you for your answers.
Hello
Thank you for your reply.
I created a Proton account many years ago.
As with Brave and all other technologies, I am still in a testing phase, but an advanced phase.
I simply have doubts and no technical knowledge, despite the fact that I work in a multinational IT company, shame on me.
Google has managed to create a simple, free and functional ecosystem.
But the price to pay is my privacy.
In the past, I have often changed emails, browsers, tools.
But Google has succeeded.
I use an iPhone and a macbook, but I am still tied to the Google system.
My fault.
Thanks for your suggestion, I hope I have the will and courage to change my use of IT.
Well …Brave …
Ciao 
you welcome @tototata and good luck with you journey for switching 
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