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This is why I use Fastmail, and encrypt my Google Drive data. It isn't any more secure as far as I can tell, but I'm tired of 2-3 companies holding all my easily accessible data in one place. Especially when they are openly using that data for advertising.

These days I'll always take a paid service over a "free" one where I'm the product.

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But that requires scrutiny as well. Just because you're paying does not mean that they are not profiting off of your data.

I trust google reasonably well when they say they do not scan G Suite (paid) products for advertising. https://support.google.com/work/answer/6056650?hl=en

After Snowden leakage, I don't think you should take their word for it.

This is absolutely true. I guess I'm avoiding people who explicitly use my data for profit, in favour of those whose profit model doesn't require it. The trust is that Fastmail et al. are successful enough, and honest enough to not use it.

Ultimately I'd love to host everything myself. But, at present, I don't have the technical knowledge to trust myself to secure everything.

On top of that, on an even more emotional level, the principle of myself being the product doesn't sit right with me.

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