Slashdot Mirror

This is the reason you shouldn't even rely on one of the most powerful and rich companies on earth to provide a useful service over an extended period of time. I'm glad all my Google Accounts are throwaways.

Hangouts is a neat, feasible zero-fuss communications package and I use it regularly. Once it goes, I'll switch to threema ( https://threema.ch/en/ -- recommended ) entirely.

However, I'd like a neat web-centric video/VOIP chat solution, preferably one that doesn't get closed down 3 years in. Any suggestions?

A lot of data leaks can be prevented by using a browser instead of apps. There are browsers that are made for users, not advertisers: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/...
Apps are basically trojan horses on your device. The purpose of the majority of apps is to collect data about their users. So, instead of the amazon app, use their mobile web page (it's actually good). Instead of Facebook app, use their web page (or better don't use fb at all), etc.

When selecting a browser, try not to choose from a company whose main business is advertising. http://www.investopedia.com/ar...

Practical tips:
Some browser addons I consider a basic necessity:
1) ad blocker (obviously)
2) tracker blocker, like Ghostery (FF now comes with its own built-in tracker blocker)
3) NoScript

For messaging I recommend https://threema.ch/
Yes, you pay 3 CHF, but only once.

It has become difficult to find apps that don't sell your data. Since everybody wants apps for free the app developers have to resort to other revenue channels and selling your data is a fairly obvious one. https://www.go2mobi.com/sell-u...

WhatsApp pulled that same stunt on older iOS versions just a few days ago. I convince most of my friends to switch to Telegram and Threema.
For business and games we mostly switched to Discord.

https://threema.ch/
https://telegram.org/
https://discordapp.com/ -- replacement for Skype and TeamSpeak

Pissing of their user base ... I really wonder how long companies continue to think they can continue to do that.

Threema is another alternative with a good privacy policy, although it costs a few dollars.

https://threema.ch/en

Servers in Switzerland, Company has "bank status", open API, everything encrypted, anonymous ID.

xvan beat me to this.

I suggest you have a look at Threema ( https://threema.ch/en ). It's a paid alternative. It's encrypted.

Check out Threema https://threema.ch/en/

I think that's basically what threema is doing. They could also do a data-plan key exchange, but there are many merchants who operate in areas with no cell coverage, and WiFi is too difficult to use opportunistically on most phones.