I disagree here, as an American using a Swiss exit node (most compliant) websites are forced to allow a much higher degree of privacy to comply with the laws there.
While I block all third party advertising and tracking anyway, it’s incredibly satisfying seeing websites explicitly list out everything they’re tracking about you and having that “reject all” button.
Fi makes it pretty clear that use outside the US is meant to be temporary (unless you’re on military duty overseas). The person you replied to got a really long run and honestly has no cause for complaint.
I completely block all Google access via DNS blocklists (I realize it’s not 100% bulletproof as you could get around the block by just knowing the IP address). Because their tracking is including in basically every app and website I think this is the only effective way to stop tracking.
Using a VPN might make you more anonymous in other ways, but that alone isn’t going to stop anything from building a profile on you.
There are 2 lists of countries applicable here. The list of countries where the VPN is included with a Google One subscription and the list where you could use the VPN while traveling.
You’ll notice that countries known for internet censorship are missing from both lists, so using it for that purpose wouldn’t work at all.
I had to help out a client this week because this migration broke their website. Turns out that Squarespace’s omain forwarding feature drops query params. This brokes thousands of links. Fun times.
With your recommendation and that of the others below it, I might give them a shot. I’ve been using Cloudflare in the meantime but don’t really need their other services anymore.
Edit: Hoping they support DNSSEC. I just woke up so I’m too lazy to look that up but I’ll get there.
The registrar doesn’t have anything to do with TLS. I use LetsEncrypt on my domains through NameCheap, no problems whatsoever. I get my hosting elsewhere (previously Vultr, currently Hetzner).
I care if they have poor privacy policies or something in features I don’t use as that can indicate future impact on features I do use, but I don’t care if they have limited product offerings generally. So to me, it’s completely irrelevant.
You should probably separate your hosting from your registrar anyway so you can switch one without impacting the other. I did just that when I bailed on Vultr due to their unprofessional (IMO) handling of a TOS update (blocked access to my account, so I couldn’t close my account w/o accepting the terms), but I didn’t have to change my registrar and all that, I just spun up an instance at another host and redirected DNS entries. I also separated my DNS mappings from my domain registrar (they’re combined now @ cloudflare, which is a little unfortunate).
They ticked off a lot of customers by eliminating included email. Their email product was however fantastic and can be worth the price; while I’ve switched to Proton one thing I miss is the very accurate Gandi spam headers and the ease of writing mail filters.
So far the new owner hasn’t worsened things (from my view) but my experience is that whenever one company buys another, the purchased company’s products go to hell pretty fast.
They are not primarily a domain registrar, they are a website builder SaaS. So they will probably try to sell you on that product when you renew, but many registrars will try to upsell you, so that’s not uncommon. If you are planning to transfer away, I can certainly recommend Namecheap, I’ve used them for many years without issue
Add it to the pile.
Tbh at least this one makes sense, who is going to use a VPN (an internet privacy tool) from Google?
Exactly. That would be like using a web browser made by Google so they have direct access to your internet browsing history. Ridiculous!
My purpose for a VPN is more about connecting to WiFi APs I don’t control. Google VPN worked just fine for that.
These days you don’t get much extra benefit on a VPN over TLS which you get on 99% of websites.
I disagree here, as an American using a Swiss exit node (most compliant) websites are forced to allow a much higher degree of privacy to comply with the laws there.
While I block all third party advertising and tracking anyway, it’s incredibly satisfying seeing websites explicitly list out everything they’re tracking about you and having that “reject all” button.
when traveling Communist countries in Asia with google fi it was really nice to have
but then they revoked my data service while charging me the same amount every month, because they said I’m traveling too much.
How long did it take for them to turn it off?
two years I think. they told me I need to go to the United States at least once a year.
Seems entirely reasonable to me, depending on the country it costs them extra to route your calls overseas to another network.
Fi makes it pretty clear that use outside the US is meant to be temporary (unless you’re on military duty overseas). The person you replied to got a really long run and honestly has no cause for complaint.
I wish they would at least give me a discount for the service without the data.
A better solution might be to not travel to communist countries.
yeah you should stay home
in micronations
I did. Because it was free with another service I’m already paying for.
My sister. No fucking idea why
Yeah right? I have a VPN to prevent Google (amongst many others) from having too much of my data.
Googles can have a little bit of my data, as a treat
Other than source IP address, I don’t see how does that prevent Google from having your data.
I completely block all Google access via DNS blocklists (I realize it’s not 100% bulletproof as you could get around the block by just knowing the IP address). Because their tracking is including in basically every app and website I think this is the only effective way to stop tracking.
Using a VPN might make you more anonymous in other ways, but that alone isn’t going to stop anything from building a profile on you.
People who live in countries with internet censorship?
Google VPN is/was only available in select countries.
https://support.google.com/googleone/answer/7582172
There are 2 lists of countries applicable here. The list of countries where the VPN is included with a Google One subscription and the list where you could use the VPN while traveling.
You’ll notice that countries known for internet censorship are missing from both lists, so using it for that purpose wouldn’t work at all.
Oh wow, it’s useless
Do you mean a media piracy tool?
That’s what he said.
Torrenting was blocked on it anyway, as far as I could tell.
Whenever Google launches a product or service wait at least 5 years before even trying it to see if they’re serious, got it
It’s like a self-fulfilling prophecy at that point. Like Netflix with new shows.
Netflix: here’s this new show
People: yeah you guys always cancel stuff after the first season or two, I’m not gonna get invested in something that will just get canceled
Netflix: man, these viewership numbers are low. CANCELED!
.
I had to help out a client this week because this migration broke their website. Turns out that Squarespace’s omain forwarding feature drops query params. This brokes thousands of links. Fun times.
Oh yikes. I would’ve recommended Gandi but they were bought out too. Seems like no one wants to play the registrar game anymore.
I’ve heard lots of recommendations for Porkbun. Personally, I have mine with Cloudflare because they’re cheap.
Moved to porkbun because they added DDNS support to OPNsense for porkbun
With your recommendation and that of the others below it, I might give them a shot. I’ve been using Cloudflare in the meantime but don’t really need their other services anymore.
Edit: Hoping they support DNSSEC. I just woke up so I’m too lazy to look that up but I’ll get there.
For total clarity, I’ve never used Porkbun so I can’t vouch. But I like what I see on their website.
I moved to porkbun after Google domains shut down, very happy with the service so far.
Namecheap and clouflare are decent, though you have to use cloudflare’s DNS hosting if you go with them.
Last I used Namecheap they still didn’t support Let’s Encrypt and were charging for DV TLS certs. Noped right back out.
The registrar doesn’t have anything to do with TLS. I use LetsEncrypt on my domains through NameCheap, no problems whatsoever. I get my hosting elsewhere (previously Vultr, currently Hetzner).
A company’s business practices are relevant regardless of which of their services you’re subscribing to.
I care if they have poor privacy policies or something in features I don’t use as that can indicate future impact on features I do use, but I don’t care if they have limited product offerings generally. So to me, it’s completely irrelevant.
You should probably separate your hosting from your registrar anyway so you can switch one without impacting the other. I did just that when I bailed on Vultr due to their unprofessional (IMO) handling of a TOS update (blocked access to my account, so I couldn’t close my account w/o accepting the terms), but I didn’t have to change my registrar and all that, I just spun up an instance at another host and redirected DNS entries. I also separated my DNS mappings from my domain registrar (they’re combined now @ cloudflare, which is a little unfortunate).
What happened to Gandi?
https://domainnamewire.com/2023/03/02/total-web-solutions-acquires-domain-registrar-gandi-forming-new-entity/
They ticked off a lot of customers by eliminating included email. Their email product was however fantastic and can be worth the price; while I’ve switched to Proton one thing I miss is the very accurate Gandi spam headers and the ease of writing mail filters.
So far the new owner hasn’t worsened things (from my view) but my experience is that whenever one company buys another, the purchased company’s products go to hell pretty fast.
Yeah I’m in the same boat. I haven’t used squarespace and I have no idea if I should stay with them.
They are not primarily a domain registrar, they are a website builder SaaS. So they will probably try to sell you on that product when you renew, but many registrars will try to upsell you, so that’s not uncommon. If you are planning to transfer away, I can certainly recommend Namecheap, I’ve used them for many years without issue