this post was submitted on 01 Sep 2023
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DeGoogle Yourself

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I have been hesitant to add my card because of privacy. I particular the fact that my card is linked to my email. What is your take on it?

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[–] Sparkega 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I recommend using Privacy.com to create virtual credit cards that withdraw directly from a bank account. I see it as a VPN for credit card purchases. For US customers only, but obscures payment info to merchants.

You can use a bogus name and address for the merchant billing information (in this case Google Play).

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Anything like that service for EU users?

[–] Sparkega 2 points 1 year ago

Not that I'm aware of. A basic search didn't turn up anything promising.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Sadly I am not from the US

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Like adding it to google pay? Or do you mean for electronic payments in a profile with sandboxed google play services?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I mean for electronic payments. But I would also be interested in knowing how you solve gpay in a privacy oriented way?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Oh just because sandboxed google services is installed doesnt mean your payment info is shared between different applications/websites assuming proper encryption on their end. If you want to improve your privacy for electronic payments like others said monero is best but since thats not widely used yet a card masking service is what you want for now. However you'll be relying on a third party, privacy.com is what the majority use afaik. As for gpay, privacy from google is basically nonexistent, obviously, but if you mean privacy from merchants then they already mask your card information for transactions iirc. I suggest either using a card masking service, another electronic money service such as paypal (shit privacy but you wont be tied to google), or even using a prepaid visa gift card or giftcards in general paid in cash at your local drugstore.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Just get gift cards.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Being married and getting paid opposite weeks, gpay is essentially the only google offering I am in no hurry to break free from.

Though it would be nice to see competition in the space.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

If I must, then I would just keep an old phone with google, which never leaves home or wherever I keep it.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

Cash is better than a card. And you can use Monero on any online store that takes crypto by using a swap service.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Buy monero with monero buy google gift card

[–] baked_tea 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

How much money value do you lose in this process?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I was buying 1 month of VPN for 5€, but it cost me almost 20€ with all fees (I think it was ethereum) 😂 monero might be better, but small crypto transactions make no sense afaik

[–] [email protected] -2 points 1 year ago

I do not know, but anonymity costs. Bitcoin is a lot cheaper at least for small amounts (idrk how monero works so no idea for large amounts) but not anonymous and not all that fast in transactions.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just buy the cards with cash? They're probably at every other store.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Cash is much more tracable than monero if you know how to use it properly. I was talking about full anonymity.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's borderline impossible to trace cash. There's a reason money laundering is pretty successful. And if you're completely paranoid, pay with coins. These will never be tracked unless you happen to commit enough serious crimes to have a team of agents track you 24/7.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Which does not negate my statement :)

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Then again, if you're targeted like this you probably have a keylogger installed, negating any and all privacy benefits of Monero.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Someone can not simply "install a keylogger" on any device. As log as they don't have access to the device,/you're good. They might have acces to your bank account though so they know which bank notes have been taken out of the bank by their ID. That ID can be prfectly traced if you buy in a store as that store just puts the notes back into a bank. Idk why it's so hard for you to understand that physical access to anything is a horror for anonymity. Our devices allow us to be at any place in the world and you decide to go to an ATM and your local supermarket. It's not just easier and quicker, it's also not tracable.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

"Hey Mr coffee barista, can you break this $20 in two $10 for me? Thanks!"

Bam. Untraceable.