Question - I have my elderly parent set up with a basic Chromebook. I know the privacy issues with Google/Chrome, but they were already in the “Google ecosystem” and after numerous security issues with their Windows PC, a Chromebook has limited the unintentional damage done on that front. Especially with the Play Store and Linux options disabled.
With Google Search pushing AI harder and harder, I would like to softly try migrating them to something like Brave Search or DuckDuckGo.
The issue is that when changing search providers on Chrome, they lose access to their pinned favorites. That issue arises when they need to visit their health portal which is not a site they visit often, but need quick access to.
I’m wondering if there are any recommended, privacy friendly new tab page extensions that you recommend? Ideally it would be FOSS, but that isn’t a hard and fast rule. If it allows me to configure it so it looks semi-similar to the default Chrome new tab page all the better.
Is this something that your parents actually want or is this something that you are pushing on them? I understand moving them to a Chromebook to help mitigate their own user error but does Google Search actually hinder them more then having to get accustomed to whatever solution you force on them?
Fair question. They haven’t said explicitly they want to move off Google Search, but I already moved them to Brave (minus the crypto crap) on their Android phone and tablet with DuckDuckGo configured as their default search engine. I did that a year or two ago with no issues.
The issue on a Chromebook is the Android versions of Brave, Firefox, etc. usually perform worse than the built in Chrome browser. Additionally, most Android apps are not configured to work well with a trackpad/mouse.
Plus, I would prefer not to enable the Google Play Store on their Chromebook due to the questionable security from Google when it comes to malicious apps missing detection.
Ideally, I could keep them on Chrome (w/uBOL) on their Chromebook, just with a New Tab Page extension.
I thought about that. I can try that out with them, see if it works for them or not.
I want to make sure whatever I choose works for them since I live hours away so it isn’t a “fix this for me tomorrow”. I thought a New Tab Page extension might be the best option, but Bookmarks might be another option.
Another idea. If you have a place where the Floccus plugin could sync to such that both you could access, you could add/remove bookmarks for them and back them up. Easiest would be some WevDAV space.