Trying to avoid google is impossible. Even if one is very technically sophisticated, employs special tools and never makes a mistake, you still wind up at a site like FreeRepublic that uses google analytics.
Try this simple experiment:
Post something to FreeRepublic using a made up nonsense word like TreeGreenTurtle307.
Now go to google.com and search for that term like this:
site:freerepublic.com TreeGreenTurtle307
It will show up WORLDWIDE in minutes or even seconds.
Anything that says “Enhanced by Google” should be avoided like the plague.
Essentials are:
1. A VPN to a Free country (not any of the Five Eyes), even China.
2. TOR
If you don’t use TOR, Ublock ORIGIN is excellent.
Here’s an excellent tutorial. Requires technical knowledge or Good Old Fashioned American Git ‘R Done.
https://gist.github.com/atcuno/3425484ac5cce5298932
Ghostery blocks google analytics on all sites I have visited. And Startpage has none of those. It’s searched are “enhanced by Google” but your searches are not tracked and there is no contact with google on that platform. Searches done by Startpage using google, it’s Startpage’s server doing the searches, not your computer. Now, when you go to a site like FR or anywhere else, that’s a different story altogether, you are correct. You are right again when you say it is nearly impossible not to avoid google. I’d say that’s been true for the last 15 years at least. But, there are certainly things one can do to minimize difficulties.
Ghostery blocks google analytics on all sites I have visited. And Startpage has none of those. It’s searched are “enhanced by Google” but your searches are not tracked and there is no contact with google on that platform. Searches done by Startpage using google, it’s Startpage’s server doing the searches, not your computer. Now, when you go to a site like FR or anywhere else, that’s a different story altogether, you are correct. You are right again when you say it is nearly impossible not to avoid google. I’d say that’s been true for the last 15 years at least. But, there are certainly things one can do to minimize difficulties.
https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=site:freerepublic.com+TreeGreenTurtle307
Sorry; but no hits on green turtle.
What DID show was that FR might harm your computer!!!