Reducing Google's ad profiling - seeking practical strategies

Good day everyone,

I would like to ask for some guidance on reaching a balance in terms of setup.

Constraints:

  • I can’t replace android with something else because of work authentication and security purposes and I use a laptop which runs on windows.
  • I’m not fond of iOS.
  • I use cloud drive a lot and the integration between google drive and gmail is handy of course.

What I’ve done so far:

  • Switched from Chrome to Brave and then to Firefox qwith uOrigin Block and VPN always on.
  • I still use google for searches and I think Qwant was the best so far, but would appreciate some opinions.
  • I have now installed Thunderbird mail service on desktop and mobile with the idea that it will make it harder for google to use my emails to profile.
  • I always used bitwarden for pass management.
  • Installed Signal and will use it for closest relatives and continue with whatsapp for the rest of the world.

Questions I have:

  • Is thunderbird enough to prevent google from profiling, albeit they can still read and track?
  • Should I keep Gmail as legacy and start afresh with Proton or Tuta?
    Proton seems to be the most complete solution in terms of email + calendar + cloud storage. Is this the best option?
    Tuta is building their cloud drive solution but I read that app usability is not as good as proton.
  • For Android users, how can you reduce Google’s data collection without switching to iOS or a custom ROM.
  • I need real traffic information which again Google maps leads and Waze follows. Which other options have you used to strike a balance?
  • What sacrifices in convenience have you found worth it vs. not worth it?

Appreciate your time and help.

Regards

First, is all this for your work laptop? Or do you also have a personal computer for personal things? Your post is not clear on that as I read it.