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• "Pixel format 'yuvj420p' is not supported" when converting image to video using CUDA hardware acceleration

  11 février 2020, par laurent

  I’m trying to convert an image to a video using CUDA hardware acceleration but I can’t get it to work.

  The basic command I have is this one :

  ffmpeg -y -hwaccel cuvid -i tests/MediaSamples/portrait_0.jpg -t 10 out.mp4

  And I’m getting this error :

  [AVHWFramesContext @ 0x32d3f00] Pixel format 'yuvj420p' is not supported
  
  [mjpeg @ 0x2d18480] Error initializing a CUDA frame pool
  
  cuvid hwaccel requested for input stream #0:0, but cannot be initialized.
  
  Error while decoding stream #0:0: Invalid argument

  I’ve tried setting the pixel format like so, but that didn’t help :

  ffmpeg -y -hwaccel cuvid -pix_fmt yuv420p -i tests/MediaSamples/portrait_0.jpg -t 10 out.mp4

  I’ve also tried many other flags but can’t get anything to work. Any idea what the issue might be ?

  For information this is the full log :

  ffmpeg version N-96615-gc35382a Copyright (c) 2000-2020 the FFmpeg developers
  
    built with gcc 5.4.0 (Ubuntu 5.4.0-6ubuntu1~16.04.12) 20160609
  
    configuration: --enable-nonfree --disable-shared --enable-gpl --enable-openssl --enable-libx264 --enable-cuda-sdk --enable-nvenc --enable-cuda --enable-cuvid --enable-libnpp --extra-cflags='-I/usr/local/ssl/include -I/usr/local/cuda/include -I/usr/local/include -L/usr/local/ssl/lib -Wl,-rpath=/usr/local/ssl/lib' --extra-ldflags=-L/usr/local/cuda/lib64
  
    libavutil      56. 38.100 / 56. 38.100
  
    libavcodec     58. 67.101 / 58. 67.101
  
    libavformat    58. 37.100 / 58. 37.100
  
    libavdevice    58.  9.103 / 58.  9.103
  
    libavfilter     7. 73.100 /  7. 73.100
  
    libswscale      5.  6.100 /  5.  6.100
  
    libswresample   3.  6.100 /  3.  6.100
  
    libpostproc    55.  6.100 / 55.  6.100
  
  Input #0, image2, from 'tests/MediaSamples/portrait_0.jpg':
  
    Duration: 00:00:00.04, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 40237 kb/s
  
      Stream #0:0: Video: mjpeg (Progressive), yuvj420p(pc, bt470bg/unknown/unknown), 1600x900 [SAR 72:72 DAR 16:9], 25 tbr, 25 tbn, 25 tbc
  
  Stream mapping:
  
    Stream #0:0 -> #0:0 (mjpeg (native) -> h264 (libx264))
  
  Press [q] to stop, [?] for help
  
  [AVHWFramesContext @ 0x32d3f00] Pixel format 'yuvj420p' is not supported
  
  [mjpeg @ 0x2d18480] Error initializing a CUDA frame pool
  
  cuvid hwaccel requested for input stream #0:0, but cannot be initialized.
  
  Error while decoding stream #0:0: Invalid argument
  
  [libx264 @ 0x2d1e840] using SAR=1/1
  
  [libx264 @ 0x2d1e840] using cpu capabilities: MMX2 SSE2Fast SSSE3 SSE4.2 AVX FMA3 AVX2 LZCNT BMI2
  
  [libx264 @ 0x2d1e840] profile High, level 4.0
  
  [libx264 @ 0x2d1e840] 264 - core 148 r2643 5c65704 - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec - Copyleft 2003-2015 - http://www.videolan.org/x264.html - options: cabac=1 ref=3 deblock=1:0:0 analyse=0x3:0x113 me=hex subme=7 psy=1 psy_rd=1.00:0.00 mixed_ref=1 me_range=16 chroma_me=1 trellis=1 8x8dct=1 cqm=0 deadzone=21,11 fast_pskip=1 chroma_qp_offset=-2 threads=24 lookahead_threads=4 sliced_threads=0 nr=0 decimate=1 interlaced=0 bluray_compat=0 constrained_intra=0 bframes=3 b_pyramid=2 b_adapt=1 b_bias=0 direct=1 weightb=1 open_gop=0 weightp=2 keyint=250 keyint_min=25 scenecut=40 intra_refresh=0 rc_lookahead=40 rc=crf mbtree=1 crf=23.0 qcomp=0.60 qpmin=0 qpmax=69 qpstep=4 ip_ratio=1.40 aq=1:1.00
  
  Output #0, mp4, to 'out.mp4':
  
    Metadata:
  
      encoder         : Lavf58.37.100
  
      Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (libx264) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuvj420p(pc), 1600x900 [SAR 72:72 DAR 16:9], q=-1--1, 25 fps, 12800 tbn, 25 tbc
  
      Metadata:
  
        encoder         : Lavc58.67.101 libx264
  
      Side data:
  
        cpb: bitrate max/min/avg: 0/0/0 buffer size: 0 vbv_delay: N/A
  
  frame=    0 fps=0.0 q=0.0 Lsize=       0kB time=00:00:00.00 bitrate=N/A speed=   0x
  
  video:0kB audio:0kB subtitle:0kB other streams:0kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead: unknown
  
  Conversion failed!

• The 7 GDPR Principles : A Guide to Compliance

  11 août 2023, par Erin — Analytics Tips, GDPR

  We all knew it was coming. It’s all anyone could talk about — the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) took effect on 25 May 2018. 

  You might think five years would have been plenty of time for organisations to achieve compliance, yet many have failed to do so. As of 2022, 81% of French businesses and 95% of American companies were still not compliant.

  If you’re one of these organisations still working on compliance, this blog will provide valuable information about the seven GDPR principles and guide you on your way to compliance. It will also explore how web analytics tools can help organisations improve transparency, ensure data security and achieve GDPR compliance.

  What is GDPR ?

  The European Union (EU) created the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to grant individuals greater control over their data and promote transparency in data processing. 

  Known by many other names across Europe (e.g., RGPD, DSGVO, etc.), the GDPR created a set of rules surrounding the handling of personal data of EU citizens and residents, to make sure organisations aren’t being irresponsible with user names, locations, IP addresses, information gleaned from cookies, and so on. 

  Organisations must assume several responsibilities to achieve GDPR compliance, regardless of their physical location. These obligations include :

  • Respecting user rights
  • Implementing documentation and document retention policies
  • Ensuring data security 

  Why is GDPR compliance important ?

  Data has become a valuable asset for businesses worldwide. The collection and use of data is a feature of almost every sector. However, with increased data usage comes a greater responsibility to protect individuals’ privacy and rights. 

  A YouGov study conducted in 17 key markets found that two in three adults worldwide believe tech corporations across all markets have too much control over their data.

  

  GDPR is the most extensive government framework aiming to tackle the increasing concern over data collection and handling. GDPR safeguards personal data from misuse, unauthorised access and data breaches. It ensures that businesses handle information responsibly and with respect for individual privacy. It also provided a foundation for similar laws to be created in other countries, including China, which is among the least concerned regions (56%), along with Sweden (54%) and Indonesia (56%).

  GDPR has been pivotal in safeguarding personal data and empowering individuals with more control over their information. Compliance with GDPR builds trust between businesses and their customers. Currently, 71% of the countries in the world are covered by data protection and privacy legislation.

  What are the risks of non-compliance ?

  We’ve established the siginficance of GDPR, but what about the implications — what does it mean for your business ? The consequences of non-compliance can be severe and are not worth being lax about. 

  According to Article 83 of the GDPR, you can be penalised up to 4% of your annual global revenue or €20 million, whichever is higher, for violations. For smaller businesses, such substantial fines could be devastating. Non-compliance could even result in legal action from individuals or data protection authorities, leading to further financial losses.

  Potential outcomes are not just legal and financial. GDPR violations can significantly damage your reputation as a company. Non-compliance could also cost you business opportunities if your policies and processes do not comply and, therefore, do not align with potential partners. Customers trust businesses that take data protection seriously over those that do not.

  

  Finally, and perhaps the most timid outcome on the surface, individuals have the right to complain to data protection authorities if they believe you violate their data rights. These complaints can trigger an investigation, and if your business is found to be breaking the rules, you could face all of the consequences mentioned above. 

  You may think it couldn’t happen to you, but GDPR fines have collectively reached over €4 billion and are growing at a notable rate. Fines grew 92% from H1 2021 compared with H1 2022. A record-breaking €1.2 billion fine to Meta in 2023 is the biggest we’ve seen, so far. But smaller businesses can be fined, too. A bank in Hungary was fined €1,560 for not erasing and correcting data when the subject requested it. (Individuals can also be fined in flagrant cases, like a police officer fined €1,400 for using police info for private purposes.)

  

  The 7 GDPR principles and how to comply

  You should now have a good understanding of GDPR, why it’s important and the consequences of not being compliant. 

  Your first step to compliance is to identify the personal data your organisation processes and determine the legal basis for processing each type. You then need to review your data processing activities to ensure they align with the GDPR’s purpose and principles.

  There are seven key principles in Article 5 of the GDPR that govern the lawful processing of personal data :

  Lawfulness, fairness and transparency

  This principle ensures you collect and use data in a legal and transparent way. It must be collected with consent, and you must tell your customers why you need their data. Data processing must be conducted fairly and transparently. 

  How to comply

  • Review your data practices and identify if and why you collect personal data from customers.
    • Learn what personally identifiable information (PII) is.
  • Update your website and forms to include a clear and easy-to-understand explanation of why you need their data and what you’ll use it for.
  • Obtain explicit consent from individuals when processing their sensitive data.
  • Add a cookie consent banner to your website, informing users about the cookies you use and why.
    • Website analytics tools like Google Analytics and Matomo offer the ability to create cookie consent banners and integrate with Consent Management Platforms (CMPs) to manage user consent and privacy settings.
    • Matomo also offers a setting without tracking cookies, in which case you would not need to add the cookie consent banner. 
  • Privacy notices must be accessible at all times. 
  • To ensure your cookies are GDPR compliant, you must :
    • Get consent before using any cookies (except strictly necessary cookies). 
    • Clearly explain what each cookie tracks and its purpose.
    • Document and store user consent.
    • Don’t refuse access to services if users do not consent to the use of certain cookies.
    • Make the consent withdrawal process simple. 

  Use tools like Matomo that can be configured to automatically anonymise data so you don’t process any personal data.

  Purpose limitation

  You can only use data for the specific, legitimate purposes you told your visitors, prospects or customers about at the time of collection. You can’t use it for anything else without asking again. 

  How to comply

  • Define the specific purposes for collecting personal data (e.g., processing orders, sending newsletters).
  • Ensure you don’t use the data for any other purposes without getting explicit consent from the individuals.

  Data minimisation

  Data minimisation means you should only collect the data you need, aligned with the stated purpose. You shouldn’t gather or store more data than necessary. Implementing data minimisation practices ensures compliance and protects against data breaches.

  How to comply

  • Identify the minimum data required for each purpose.
  • Conduct a data audit to identify and eliminate unnecessary data collection points.
  • Don’t ask for unnecessary information or store data that’s not essential for your business operations.
  • Implement data retention policies to delete data when it is no longer required.

  Accuracy

  You are responsible for keeping data accurate and up-to-date at all times. You should have processes to promptly erase or correct any data if you have incorrect information for your customers.

  How to comply

  • Implement a process to regularly review and update customer data.
  • Provide an easy way for customers to request corrections to their data if they find any errors.

  Storage limitation

  Data should not be kept longer than necessary. You should only hold onto it for as long as you have a valid reason, which should be the purpose stated and consented to. Securely dispose of data when it is no longer needed. There is no upper time limit on data storage. 

  How to comply

  • Set clear retention periods for the different types of data you collect.
  • Develop data retention policies and adhere to them consistently.
  • Delete data when it’s no longer needed for the purposes you specified.

  Integrity and confidentiality

  You must take measures to protect data from unauthorised or unlawful access, like keeping it locked away and secure.

  How to comply

  • Securely store personal data with encryption and access controls, and keep it either within the EU or somewhere with similar privacy protections. 
  • Train your staff on data protection and restrict access to data only to those who need it for their work.
  • Conduct regular security assessments and address vulnerabilities promptly.

  Accountability

  Accountability means that you are responsible for complying with the other principles. You must demonstrate that you are following the rules and taking data protection seriously.

  How to comply

  • Appoint a Data Protection Officer (DPO) or someone responsible for data privacy in your company.
  • Maintain detailed records of data processing activities and any data breaches.
  • Data breaches must be reported within 72 hours.

  Compliance with GDPR is an ongoing process, and it’s vital to review and update your practices regularly. 

  What are GDPR rights ?

  Individuals are granted various rights under the GDPR. These rights give them more control over their personal data.

  

  The right to be informed : People can ask why their data is required.

  What to do : Explain why personal data is required and how it will be used.

  The right to access : People can request and access the personal data you hold about them.
  What to do : Provide a copy of the data upon request, free of charge and within one month.

  The right to rectification : If data errors or inaccuracies are found, your customers can ask you to correct them.
  What to do : Promptly update any incorrect information to ensure it is accurate and up-to-date.

  The right to object to processing : Your customers have the right to object to processing their data for certain purposes, like direct marketing.
  What to do : Respect this objection unless you have legitimate reasons for processing the data.

  Rights in relation to automated decision-making and profiling : GDPR gives individuals the right not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing, including profiling, if it significantly impacts them.
  What to do : Offer individuals the right to human intervention and express their point of view in such cases.

  The right to be forgotten : Individuals can request the deletion of their data under certain circumstances, such as when the data is no longer necessary or when they withdraw consent.
  What to do : Comply with such requests unless you have a legal obligation to keep the data.

  The right to data portability : People can request their personal data in a commonly used and machine-readable format.
  What to do : Provide the data to the individual if they want to transfer it to another service provider.

  The right to restrict processing : Customers can ask you to temporarily stop processing their data, for example, while they verify its accuracy or when they object to its usage.
  What to do : Store the data during this period but do not process it further.

  Are all website analytics tools GDPR compliant ?

  Unfortunately, not all web analytics tools are built the same. No matter where you are located in the world, if you are processing the personal data of European citizens or residents, you need to fulfil GDPR obligations.

  While your web analytics tool helps you gain valuable insights from your user base and web traffic, they don’t all comply with GDPR. No matter how hard you work to adhere to the seven principles and GDPR rights, using a non-compliant tool means that you’ll never be fully GDPR compliant.

  When using website analytics tools and handling data, you should consider the following :

  Collection of data

  Aligned with the lawfulness, fairness and transparency principle, you must collect consent from visitors for tracking if you are using website analytics tools to collect visitor behavioural data — unless you anonymise data entirely with Matomo.

  

  To provide transparency, you should also clarify the types of data you collect, such as IP addresses, device information and browsing behaviour. Note that data collection aims to improve your website’s performance and understand your audience better.

  Storage of data

  Assure your visitors that you securely store their data and only keep it for as long as necessary, following GDPR’s storage limitation principle. Clearly state the retention periods for different data types and specify when you’ll delete or anonymise it.

  Usage of data

  Make it clear that to comply with the purpose limitation principle, the data you collect will not be used for other purposes beyond website analytics. You should also promise not to share data with third parties for marketing or unrelated activities without their explicit consent. 

  Anonymisation and pseudonymisation

  Features like IP anonymisation to protect users’ privacy are available with GA4 (Google Analytics) and Matomo. Describe how you use these tools and mention that you may use pseudonyms or unique identifiers instead of real names to safeguard personal data further.

  Cookies and consent

  Inform visitors that your website uses cookies and other tracking technologies for analytics purposes. Matomo offers customisable cookie banners and opt-out options that allow users to choose their preferences regarding cookies and tracking, along with cookieless options that don’t require consent banners. 

  Right to access and correct data

  Inform visitors of their rights and provide instructions on requesting information. Describe how to correct inaccuracies in their data and update their preferences.

  Security measures

  Assure visitors that you take data security seriously and have implemented measures to protect their data from unauthorised access or breaches. You can also use this opportunity to highlight any encryption or access controls you use to safeguard data.

  Contact information

  Provide contact details for your company’s Data Protection Officer (DPO) and encourage users to reach out if they have any questions or concerns about their data and privacy.

  When selecting web analytics tools, consider how well they align with GDPR principles. Look for features like anonymisation, consent management options, data retention controls, security measures and data storage within the EU or a similarly privacy-protecting jurisdiction. 

  Matomo offers an advanced GDPR Manager. This is to make sure websites are fully GDPR compliant by giving users the ability to access, withdraw consent, object or erase their data, in addition to the anonymizing features. 

  And finally, when you use Matomo, you have 100% data ownership — stored with us in the EU if you’re using Matomo Cloud or on your own servers with Matomo On-Premise — so you can be data-driven and still be compliant with worldwide privacy laws. We are also trusted across industries as we provide accurate data (no trying to fill in the gaps with AI), a robust API that lets you connect your data to your other tools and cookieless tracking options so you don’t need a cookie consent banner. What’s more, our open-source nature allows you to explore the inner workings, offering the assurance of security firsthand. 

  Ready to become GDPR compliant ?

  Whether you’re an established business or just starting out, if you work with data from EU citizens or residents, then achieving GDPR compliance is essential. It doesn’t need to cost you a fortune or five years to get to compliant status. With the right tools and processes, you can be on top of the privacy requirements in no time at all, avoiding any of those hefty penalties or the resulting damage to your reputation. 

  You don’t need to sacrifice powerful data insights to be GDPR compliant. While Google Analytics uses data for its ‘own purposes’, Matomo is an ethical alternative. Using our all-in-one web analytics platform means you own 100% of your data 100% of the time. 

  Start a 21-day free trial of Matomo — no credit card required.

  Disclaimer

  We are not lawyers and don’t claim to be. The information provided here is to help give an introduction to GDPR. We encourage every business and website to take data privacy seriously and discuss these issues with your lawyer if you have any concerns.

• The Ultimate List of Alternatives to Google Products

  2 août 2022, par Erin — Privacy

  For many businesses, Google products can play an integral part in the productivity, function and even success of the company. This is because Google has designed their digital ecosystem to infiltrate every aspect of your work and personal life at low-to-no cost.

  On the surface, this seems like a no-brainer. Why not have a cost-effective and seamlessly connected tech stack ? It’s the complete package. 

  From Gmail to Google Analytics, it becomes hard to untangle yourself from this intricate web Google has managed to spin. But like a web, you know there’s also a catch.

  This leads us to the big question… Why stop ?

  In this blog, we’ll cover :

  Why de-Google ?

  Google products are convenient and seemingly free. However, in recent years, Google’s name has become synonymous with privacy breaches, data leaks and illegal under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

  As their track record shows a glaring disregard for data protection, a growing list of EU member countries like Austria, France, Denmark and Italy have banned Google products, such as Google Analytics, Google Workspace and Google Chromebook.

  Google offers free products and services, but not out of altruism. There’s a trade-off. By using Google’s “free” products, your customers’ and your own online activity becomes a commodity that can be sold to advertisers.

  When the risks of using Google products are considered, it becomes clear the need to plot a pathway to de-Google your business. If you’re wondering how in the world to uncoil from this web, fortunately, there are plenty of privacy-friendly, secure alternatives to Google products that you can choose.

  Disclaimer : Below, we’ve tried our best to provide a comprehensive list of alternatives to Google products for businesses, but because you know your business best, we’d also encourage you to do your own research to ensure the tool will suit your unique needs.

  Best Google alternative tools for business

  Overall business tools

  Google Workspace alternatives

  Google Workspace isn’t GDPR compliant by default, so businesses are at risk of fines and reputational damage. More EU countries are reaching the same conclusion that Google products are violating EU law. Data Protection Authorities from Norway and Denmark have deemed Google Workspace illegal in accordance with the GDPR. 

  Nextcloud

  Nextcloud is an open-source and self-hosted productivity platform that offers a suite of services to replace the major features found in Google Workspace, such as Google Drive, Calendar, Docs, Forms and Tasks. 

  You can share files and collaborate without worrying about data being shared with unauthorised individuals or companies. As a self-hosted suite, you’re in full control of where your data is, who has access to it and can comply with the strictest of data protection legislations.

  

  Zoho

  Zoho is a Google Workspace alternative built on the same principles as Google’s productivity suite. It offers a suite of online office tools, including email, calendar and task management, but with an emphasis on privacy protection. Zoho doesn’t rely on advertising revenue to support their business which means your personal data will never be sold or used for targeted ads. 

  With over 75 million users globally, Zoho offers data encryption at rest and at transit, multi-factor authentication and complies with strict security standards set by HIPAA, the Cloud Security Alliance and the GDPR.

  

  Gmail alternatives

  Google only encrypts emails via STARTTLS. In other words, your data isn’t end-to-end encrypted and can be decrypted by them at any time. Gmail also has a history of allowing third-party app developers that work with Gmail to access private and personal Gmail messages for their own market research purposes.

  ProtonMail

  ProtonMail is a secure, open-source email service that provides end-to-end encryption, so only the sender and receiver can access the messages. Proton deliberately doesn’t possess the key needed to decrypt any part of the message, so you know your sensitive business information is always private. 

  To protect users from digital surveillance, they also provide enhanced tracking protections and don’t rely on ads, so your data isn’t mined for advertising purposes. Not only that, you can also sync ProtonMail with a host of other Google alternative products, such as Proton Calendar and Proton Drive.

  

  Mailfence

  Mailfence is a highly secure communications and planning platform that offers a complete email suite, as well as, Documents, a Calendar and Groups. It provides end-to-end encryption and comes with a built-in data loss prevention system that prevents unauthorised access to your sensitive information. 

  Mailfence is completely ad-free and promises to never commercialise its databases or share data with third parties for targeted ads.

  

  Tutanota

  Tutanota is an open-source email service known as one of the first to offer end-to-end encryption. It boasts a user-friendly interface and offers a fast, simple and secure email service that works on web and mobile platforms. Stringent security, in addition to TOTP and U2F for two-factor authentication means you control who has access to your email and messages. 

  It requires no phone number or personal information to register for a free account. In addition, Tutanota doesn’t earn money through ads, its servers are based in Europe and it is fully GDPR compliant.

  

  Google Calendar alternatives

  Calendars can contain a lot of personal information (who you are meeting, location, contact info, etc.), which is well worth keeping private. 

  Proton Calendar

  With Proton Calendar all event details – participants, locations, event names, descriptions and notes are end-to-end encrypted. It has a clean and easy-to-use interface, and you get a full set of advanced features to replace Google Calendar, such as the ability to create events and reminders, add multiple calendars and set up repeating events. You can easily sync all your calendars between mobile and desktop apps.

  

  Mailfence Calendar

  Mailfence Calendar lets you manage, schedule and track your events and meetings. Similar to Google Calendar, you can invite people to events using their Mailfence email IDs, but it doesn’t track your location or email address.

  

  Tutanota Calendar

  Tutanota Calendar offers built-in encryption, so no one else can decrypt and read your information.

  You can keep track of your appointments and meetings in a secure environment that only you have access to. You get features, such as day/week/month view, all-day events, recurring events, upcoming events view and shared calendars. You can also sync it with other apps such as Outlook.

  

  Nextcloud Calendar app

  Nextcloud also offers a Calendar app which easily syncs events from different devices with your Nextcloud account. You can integrate it with other Nextcloud apps like Contacts, Talk and Tasks.

  

  Google Drive alternatives

  The GDPR emphasises end-to-end encryption as a safeguard against data leaks, but Google Drive isn’t end-to-end encrypted, so Google has access to the data on its servers. 

  In their privacy policy, they also state that this data can be analysed for advertising purposes, so although you’re using “free” Cloud storage, users need to be aware that they’re paying for this by giving Google access to any and all data stored in Google Drive.

  Proton Drive

  Proton Drive is a secure and private Cloud storage service that provides you with an easy-to-use, customisable and secure file management system.

  It uses end-to-end encryption to secure your data and keep it safe from prying eyes. As you have full control over your data, you can decide how long it’s stored and who has access to it. You can also choose how much of your information is shared with other users.

  

  Nextcloud

  Nextcloud works on your own server, so you can access and share your data wherever you are. It’s a file hosting service that lets you store files, sync them across your devices and collaborate with others on projects. 

  It also provides encryption for all the files that you store on its servers, so you can rest assured that no one can see your information without your permission.

  

  Syncthing

  Syncthing is a free, open-source file synchronisation program that allows you to store and access your files wherever you are. It’s designed to be fast, secure and easy to use, making it a great alternative to Google Drive. 

  With Syncthing, you can sync files across multiple computers and mobile devices at once. So if you create, delete or modify files on one machine, they will automatically be replicated on other devices. Data is saved directly to a location you choose, so you can securely backup your data without needing a third-party cloud service.

  Google Docs alternatives

  Google states they can “collect information” from Google-hosted content such as Docs by means of automated scanning. 

  Not only does this stoke spying fears, it also raises concerns over who holds power over your content. If they look through your docs and decide that you’ve violated their terms of service, you can get locked out of your Google Docs – as was the case when a National Geographic crime reporter had her story “frozen” by Google.

  LibreOffice

  LibreOffice is a free, open-source office suite with all the features you need to create and edit documents, presentations and spreadsheets. It’s compatible with many different languages and all Microsoft Office file formats. 

  Unlike Google Docs, LibreOffice doesn’t store your documents on the Cloud. As it runs on your own computer, you maintain complete control and the data is kept as private and as secure as you wish. LibreOffice also has an online version that works with most web browsers and can be used on Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. 

  The open-source nature ensures security as the code is constantly improved and scouted for vulnerabilities.

  

  Nextcloud Office

  Like Google Docs, Nextcloud Office lets you create new documents and spreadsheets and collaborate with teammates or colleagues. But unlike Google Docs, Nextcloud doesn’t collect any data on who is using its platform, or what they’re doing on it. You can even encrypt the files you store in Nextcloud, so no one else can see them unless you give them access to your account.

  

  Google Keep alternative

  Standard Notes

  Standard Notes is an open-source online notebook app that offers a variety of useful features, such as tasks, to-dos and spreadsheets. 

  Unlike Google Keep, which has access to your notes, Standard Notes is end-to-end encrypted, which protects all your information and keeps it securely synced across all your devices. Standard Notes supports text, images and audio notes. As open-source software, they value transparency and trust and don’t rely on tracking or intrusive ads.

  

  Google Chrome alternatives

  Google Chrome is notorious for stalking users and collecting information for their own gains. Their browser fuels their data gathering infrastructure by being able to collect info about your search history, location, personal data and product interaction data for “personalisation” purposes – essentially to build a profile of you to sell to advertisers.

  Firefox

  Firefox is one of the most secure browsers for privacy and is trusted by 220 million users. It easily compares with Chrome in terms of ease of use and performance. 

  On top of that it offers enhanced privacy protections, so you get a browser that doesn’t stalk you and isn’t riddled with ads.