Google’s campaign against ad blockers across its services just got more aggressive. According to a report by PC World, the company has made some alterations to its extension support on Google Chrome.
Google Chrome recently changed its extension support from the Manifest V2 framework to the new Manifest V3 framework. The browser policy changes will impact one of the most popular adblockers (arguably), uBlock Origin.
The transition to the Manifest V3 framework means extensions like uBlock Origin can’t use remotely hosted code. According to Google, it “presents security risks by allowing unreviewed code to be executed in extensions.” The new policy changes will only allow an extension to execute JavaScript as part of its package.
Over 30 million Google Chrome users use uBlock Origin, but the tool will be automatically disabled soon via an update. Google will let users enable the feature via the settings for a limited period before it’s completely scrapped. From this point, users will be forced to switch to another browser or choose another ad blocker.
The title should be “Google pulls plug out of Chromium”
Too bad that even when people start switching, people writing drafts for the W3 spec are mostly Google employees. I’m sure that’ll be their next battleground.
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Don’t forget stupid DRM bullshit.
https://www.w3.org/TR/2024/WD-encrypted-media-2-20240718/
Editors: Joey Parrish (Google Inc.) Greg Freedman (Netflix Inc.) Former editors: Mark Watson (Netflix Inc.) (Until September 2019) David Dorwin (Google Inc.) (Until September 2017) Jerry Smith (Microsoft Corporation) (Until September 2017) Adrian Bateman (Microsoft Corporation) (Until May 2014)
You can get a pass till July 2025 by creating/setting a registry key that they made for businesses.
Paste this in a .reg file and double click it.
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome] "ExtensionManifestV2Availability"=dword:00000002At this rate people should just cut the cord with google. Modifying reg files is almost as annoying as moving bookmarks over. Firefox + uBlock + pihole (if you’re feeling ambitious/want to block other crap that’s non-browser related) and you’re chillin.
Moving bookmarks takes about 10 seconds to do.
Yea that’s why say, just as annoying. Which I guess for the PC illiterate registry edits are more dangerous?
I personally moved off google about 2 years ago (started using start page as well) and haven’t looked back.
I have no idea what you are talking about but whatever.
you could instead just download firefox, which isnt perfect either but still a huge improvement over any chromium browser
Friends don’t let friends run Chrome.
Couldn’t have said it better.
Switched to Firefox in 2023 and it’s wild how much shit just works now.
Totally agree. Many people who keep using Chrome have a VERY outdated view of what Firefox can do. That’s a shame, but it’s unfortunately an aspect of human nature that negative impressions are SUPER hard to change.
Lots of firefox mentions, no mention of Vivaldi tho…?
Vivaldi is still chromium-based, which is also getting Manifest V2 support cut. And its default ad blocker sucks, if we’re being honest.
Oh fuck, looks like I gotta switch again…
Vivaldi, Opera, Safari, Edge. It’s all Chromium.
Really? I thought Safari wasnt chromium based
Screw you Google. Enjoy your antitrust.
And thus, this day will be remembered as the great browser migration.
I’m not sure if it’s related, but I’ve been getting popups that prevent navigation away from pages on the Google Android browsers
Why does it need to run remotely hosted code though?
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Fair. Pulling rules makes sense. Code wouldn’t. (I wouldn’t consider regex as code.)
Thanks for the details.
Its a good thing I’ve been using Firefox for almost 2 decades then.
This is the perfect time to go aggressive on telling your friends to switch to Firefox
Firefox supremacy validated once again
We need more options
Yes, but until we have them, Firefox is the best option.
*librewolf
I’ve heard reasonably good reports about ublock origin lite (uBOL), the manifest V3 implementation. I haven’t made the jump yet, though.
This is the bargaining stage of the five stages of grief.
Maybe it’s Stockholm Syndrome.
Maybe. I’m on Firefox, but a lot of my family members are on Chrome and I’m not looking forward to the calls ;)
I has some deal breaking limitations:
- No filter list that can be updated, you have to update the whole extension to update filters. This adds delay as it has to go through Google verification process, they could even refuse some updates.
- Not every type of rules are available on MV3, so it has to drop some filters.
- No CNAME-uncloacking.
Come to firefox or even better librewolf dont let google ass fuck you.
It may still block a relatively large part of the ads, but uBlock is not just about blocking ads. Large parts of it’s filterlists are about blocking data mining, shitty cookie prompts and similar things.
It is never going to work the same. They are talking about dropping it entirely.
Not only intrusive ads, intrusive trackers too
Using the internet without an adblocker is genuinely dangerous. Everyone really should be using uBlock Origin. Using a web browser that prevents uBlock Origin puts you in danger
Does this affect edge as well? Pushing out ublock via policy to both edge and chrome has saved me a lot of headaches at work, this is gonna be a pain in the dick.
Microsoft still hasn’t made a stance. However, Edge isn’t private and is an advertising platform.
Yup, it affects all chromium browsers AFAIK
In future news: Work efficiency drops dramatically because all workers have to fight with ads while researching solutions 😮
