How to stay away from Google and other evil tech giants: Difference between revisions

- <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/The_GNU_logo.png" height="16"/> **[GNU/Linux](https://www.gnu.org/)** is the 3rd big operating system that everybody knows besides Windows and Mac OS and of those 3 it's the only free OS. There is not one GNU/Linux though that you can download and install, but there are very many distributions. This is not the place to get into [all of them](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Linux_Distribution_Timeline.svg). Also choosing a distro is a very personal process, so you will have to do your own research.  

For full freedom you'd have to go with a flavor endorsed by the <abbr title="Free Software Foundation">FSF</abbr>. [Here](https://www.gnu.org/distros/free-distros.html) is a list. I'll mention a few of them below as **Freedom Tips**.

  - <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Openlogo-debianV2.svg/800px-Openlogo-debianV2.svg.png" height="16"/> **[Debian](https://www.debian.org/)** is one of the oldest distros and has a strong ethical codex that all included software has to follow - which of course is not necessarily true for all Debian derivates.

  - <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Logo-ubuntu_cof-orange-hex.svg/1024px-Logo-ubuntu_cof-orange-hex.svg.png" height="16"/> **[Ubuntu](https://www.ubuntu.com/)** is based on Debian and generally more often suggested for GNU/Linux beginners, but less so by freedom and privacy advocates. I am using Ubuntu as my first GNU/Linux system, but it definitely won't be my last.

  - <img src="https://linuxmint.com/favicon.ico" height="16"/> **[Linux Mint](https://linuxmint.com/)** (**Beginner Tip**) is based on Ubuntu and I've heard a lot of great things about it lately. Apparently the consensus is that it's even more beginner friendly while also being more privacy friendly.

  - <img src="https://www.gnu.org/graphics/distros-gnewsense.png" height="16"/> **[gNewSense](https://www.gnewsense.org/)** (**Freedom Tip**) is another Ubuntu derivate and it is endorsed and funded by the FSF. So it's great for freedom but probably not very beginner friendly.

  - <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Lubuntu_logo_only.svg/1024px-Lubuntu_logo_only.svg.png" height="16"/> **[Lubuntu](https://lubuntu.net/)** (**Environmental Tip**) is an Ubuntu derivate that like Ubuntu itself you don't usually hear mentioned as a very privacy friendly choice, but it is very lightweight, fast and energy-friendly so it is regularly recommended to install on old devices that are getting slow. Saving a computer from going to e-waste this way is great for the environment.

  - <img src="https://www.gnu.org/graphics/distros-trisquel.png" height="16"/> **[Trisquel](https://trisquel.info/)** (**Freedom Tip**) is another Debian derivate recommended by the FSF and also by privacytools.io. Trisquel is the OS most often pre-installed on [computers](#Computers) the FSF labels "Respects your freedom".

  - <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Blancuco.jpg" height="16"/> **[PureOS](https://pureos.net/)** (**Freedom and Privacy Tip**) is yet another Debian derivate endorsed by the FSF. It comes with extra strict inclusion policies for software.

  - another notable Debian derivate is **[MX Linux](https://mxlinux.org/)** while **[Fedora](https://fedoraproject.org/)** and **[Qubes](https://www.qubes-os.org/)** are notable derivates of the **[Redhat](https://www.redhat.com/)** distro.

- <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/55/Bsd_daemon.jpg" height="16"/>  **BSD** should also be mentioned here as the second free OS besides GNU/Linux. It also has many distributions, of which <img src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Font_Awesome_5_brands_freebsd.svg/800px-Font_Awesome_5_brands_freebsd.svg.png" height="16"/> **[Free BSD](https://www.freebsd.org/)** is often recommended as a very good option for freedom and privacy.

As for **Desktop App Stores** many free operating systems come with their own stores. I can only speak for Ubuntu, which comes with a store including free as well as proprietary apps. You can't filter them so you'll always have to check whether the app is free or proprietary before installing.