Google begins to resemble the Eagles' Hotel California, where you can check out any time you like but you can never leave. Or at least that's what the Californian corporation would have you believe.
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/technology/de-google-your-life-it-s-worth-the-hassle-if-you-value-your-privacy-1.2211355
I'm now using duckduckgo.com
Unfortunately, I am tied to Google for a large part of my income. I bet most of us here spread it out though, and avoid using apps from the monolith when possible.
>duckduckgo.com
Welcome! I think this is one of the most important steps.
Others:
Dump Google services.
Dump Google apps including Chrome.
Consider using a non-Android phone: Blackberry or iOS are decent choices.
Anybody here using Chromium as an alternative to Chrome? I'm still in FF most of the time, its getting kinda bloated though and they've dumbed it down.
I'm always in FF ::)
Occasionally I use Chromium though their proxy settings being tied to the OS level is a pain. Mostly FF.
Related: Another reason to ditch Chrome.
http://thenextweb.com/opinion/2015/05/14/why-im-breaking-up-with-google-chrome/?
I use Vivaldi although its in Alpha.
https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/when-does-your-google-search-become-crime