How To Find Privacy-Focused Software
Searching just got easier 🔍
These resources make it easy to find privacy-focused software. Check it out:
AlternativeTo - A crowdsourced site that lists many alternatives to popular software. You can find privacy-focused software here, and new software options are being added all the time. Even if you are not looking for privacy related services, it's a great resource to have because you can find all types of software you need. ✨This is my personal go-to site when looking for any software.
European Alternatives - If you are looking to rely less on U.S. tech companies and services, this site it for you. As the name suggests, it gives you a list of European alternatives such as cloud services and products. Because these services must adhere to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Europe's signature data privacy law, they are going to better respect user's privacy rights than U.S. services.
OSS Gallery - If you are looking for open source software, this is a good site to check out. It crowdsources open source projects and there’s tons to look through. Because open source has a reputation for being more privacy-friendly than closed source software, it makes it easier to find an option.
Open Alternative - Another site that features open source software. These tools and services are hand-picked and more are added frequently.
I also added the following resources where you can find privacy-focused software. Though they act more as guides and provide recommendations than app discovery, they still contain crucial information and updates that you should definitely take a look.
Surveillance Self-Defense - A guide of tips, tools, and how-tos for online communication. Created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a global digital rights organization.
Privacy Guides - A not-for-profit, volunteer-run project that provides information about protecting privacy and data security.
Techlore - Run by a small team whose mission is “to prove to people they can make a real impact for themselves and others.”
Switching Software - A grassroots website that highlights ethical software.
Regardless of which resource(s) you use, conduct your own research to make sure you use the best privacy-focused software that works best for you. If you have any other resources that you would like to share, let me know in the comments.
Until Next Time,
Monique 🔐