Over the years I have managed to de-google my desktop. However, Google’s tentacles are everywhere, and it is often a job to avoid one of them. Most recently I have found that several organisations, mainly banks, will not recognise apts that are downloaded from sources other than google (Play Store) or Apple. I refuse to comply and wonder if there might be ways round this.
Thank you.
All the banking apps I have seen are in either Google, Apple, or Microsoft stores. On some versions of windows (home version) it’s very hard to get anything to install outside of Microsoft store, same with apple for both you have to disable several things to get them. In fact last time I tried to install Google on either platform it took a while to figure it out.
The idea is they lock you in to a store and protect themselves from virus or sales from other vendors.
Of course with linux I only ever recommend getting a app from the repository offered by your linux version.
So my answer is going to be no !
But I follow with interest to see if anyone has a solution
Well, you could always use their website to do your thing.
Go to the bank in person. Sounds like a ‘smart a**’ answer, but before apps and on-line banking that the way people did their banking. I know a woman that does not have a smart phone and will not use her Win 7 PC for anything but to browse. I am sure she has to go her bank.
Depends on the “country” where one lives. If it’s not a rough state, a bank has also a website for payments and shit. Like Xander H said.
Just about every day I read about the UK closing branches so depending on the bank may not be easy to do
Same thing here in the US. Three branches closest to me have closed. Now I have to drive a lot farther to visit the bank in person.
Thanks for all the replies that seem to indicate that, as usual, that Google is in complete control. I know that I can visit a bank branch, but mine has recently closed, and the nearest one is a 40 mile return trip. As for the web site, I can’t seem to use it without downloading the app, which requires Google store.
Then you live already in a dystopia.
You could sue the bank. Not cheap, costs time, but you’ll force them to reconsider.
Just out of interest which country are you in and who do you bank with ?
Perhaps we have a member using the same who can advise further
In my country, credit unions are a viable alternative to banks. Most credit unions support telephone banking and have a real helpful person answer the phone. All of them allow browser access, without having to download a bank specific app.
Banking on your PC should not require an app. Doesn’t your bank have a web site to perform your banking? No google, no app. Why trying to use your phone when working with a PC is so much easier?
A really good point , Howard.
Apart from being small and awkward, phones are more subject to malware than PC’s.
If a phone is lost , it can become a security problem if it has banking apps. You are not likely to lose a desktop PC,
From my dystopia I thank you for all the replies. I hope I shall be forgiven if I don’t go further. I think my question has been answered; there is no way to escape Google. I have tried many of the suggestions, and I think there may have been a misunderstanding. I am using my LMDE desktop; not a phone. I could give reasons for some of the problems but not without providing certain personal details that I should prefer to keep private. I know that is a cop-out, and I apologise.
No real help unfortunately, but following along in case someone has any ideas. I’m also attempting to de-google my life right now.
The only way around it per say I’ve seen would be to log in to your online banking on your mobile browser in desktop mode rather than via app, but I’ve not seen a secure replacement for the apps and google-pay.
Why use google pay? It has no advantage over a debit card.
A phone is a more bulky item to carry.
There is Samsung Pay … alternative for Samsung devices
I wouldn’t use a debit card online on it’s own for security reasons, but I do use it via google-pay because the tokenisation masks my real card number. I also almost never carry my actual cards now, after having them physically stolen and the associated faff it caused. But I do almost always have my phone on me for non-payment reasons, so it’s not really any extra bulk.
I’ve seen curve pay talked about before, but I’m still researching and deciding whether the degoogle solution is providing my data to yet another company…
Honestly, I’d rather use cash, but contactless is pretty ubiquitous where I am now to the point a lot of places are card only.
Don’t forget apple pay
Personally I prefer “pay Paul “ happy to accept any amount in any currency the larger the better, don’t worry I promise to use it towards my next holiday !
Good Luck to you. I am sorry we were not more helpful with you question. Maybe it is b/c we don’t understand it well. I do on-line banking all the time with more then one bank. I do not use google or an app store to access the bank’s web site. I go directly to the bank’s site ( .com address ) and sign in.