https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50460712
I don't know if it is any better for not monitoring my searches, but I sometimes will use the search engine, Dogpile or Startpage. At least it gets me away from using Google, and the search results seem to be quite good.
Thanks for sharing, Bill!
I'm trying to get away from Google services as well. I still use YouTube but I no longer log in and instead save the content providers and videos I like in bookmarks. I still use Facebook. It's the only way to keep in touch with some family members and friends. But I don't stay logged into it, and I use it in a container so it can't spy on my other open tabs. For search I use Ecosia. Like DuckDuckGo, they don't collect information on you and they plant trees :) I still use Google Calendar but I'm looking for alternatives. I think it's okay to use one Google service, the problem is when you use multiple services, then they can build an advertising profile on you. While most might not care, I don't like being manipulated into buying things I don't actually need and data breaches could mean that users lose control of their info.
I tried to get anybody here interested in Protonmail a while back. But even LUG members prefer free even at the cost of privacy apparently. I'm trying out Tutanota for email now which is cheap 12 euros a year, about $18 CAD. It also encrypts the email on their servers and lets you send it, too.
Remember if they don't charge anything for the product, that's because you are the product.