this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2024
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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.

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[–] feoh@lemmy.ml 63 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Friends don't let friends run Chrome.

[–] LoamImprovement 19 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Switched to Firefox in 2023 and it's wild how much shit just works now.

[–] feoh@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 months ago

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 Many people who keep using Chrome have a VERY outdated view of what Firefox can do.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.

[–] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 10 points 3 months ago

Couldn't have said it better.

[–] foremanguy92_@lemmy.ml 52 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Not only intrusive ads, intrusive trackers too

[–] Cube6392 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

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

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[–] zod000@lemmy.ml 34 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Screw you Google. Enjoy your antitrust.

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 10 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)
[–] TaintPuncher@lemmy.ml 31 points 3 months ago (4 children)

It’s not perfect but PiHole will still catch a lot of the ads if you have the know-how to set one up. Tis a relatively cheap and easy solution that has the benefit of being able to block ads network-wide, providing your router lets you set a custom DNS.

https://pi-hole.net

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 17 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Even if my Internet provider forced me to use their router I'd plug my own router in behind that one fuck that.

[–] elfpie 2 points 3 months ago

My provider, small one from my town, or the attendant just decided to give me the password. After months, I found out how to extract the configurations and used my old router instead.

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[–] variants@possumpat.io 14 points 3 months ago

Even cheaper to just stop using chrome

[–] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 8 points 3 months ago

Don't use Chrome. It has plenty of issues including backdoors by Google.

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[–] Daxtron2@startrek.website 29 points 3 months ago

Its a good thing I've been using Firefox for almost 2 decades then.

[–] Ranger@lemmy.blahaj.zone 28 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Stop using chrome and move to Firefox, also stop using Windows and more to Linux.

[–] ActionHank@sopuli.xyz 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Or the Mullvad browser, Mullvad's fork of FF with zero adds with help from the Tor project.

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[–] Mixel@szmer.info 8 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Firefox is now owned by ads company. By default there are enabled telemetrics and moreover companies starts to ignore compability of their web services with browser which market share is lower than 2% even goverments stops considering that browser. Mozzila instead of optimization of their browser spend time introduceing features like AI. I was trying to like that browser but mozzila effectively does not allow me. Now btw. I use just vivaldi. I know this is not fully open source.

[–] LeLachs@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Which "ads company"? No offense, just curious.

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[–] psud@aussie.zone 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Were Firefox to go bad, we would use a non-bad fork off Firefox. It's open source.

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[–] crazyminner@lemmy.ml 27 points 3 months ago

And thus, this day will be remembered as the great browser migration.

[–] charonn0@startrek.website 11 points 3 months ago

Bust this trust.

[–] Mikina@programming.dev 8 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I'm not sure what Mullvad is based on - i think it's on Tor, which is Firefox based?

I do use mostly LibreWolf, but if FF also went to shit, I wonder if Tor, and thus Mullvad, would keep on going or not. Because I suppose LibreWolf would have troubles with keeping up, if Mozilla would enshitify FF, since they would probably have to fork and continue development on their own.

[–] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 16 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Browser engines are ridiculously complex, nearly on the level of operating systems. All of the Firefox forks are really just different UIs built around Gecko/Quantum - those other projects aren't really maintaining their own engines, they're dependent on Mozilla's work to remain stable, secure and relevant.

[–] Mikina@programming.dev 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I know and that's what I'm afraid of. I guess I'll just have to come to terms with most websites not working in some obscure web browser that's not feature-complete. Would actually help with my addiction, so it won't be so bad, I guess.

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[–] tetris11@lemmy.ml 8 points 3 months ago

mullvad browser is based on FF

[–] jsomae@lemmy.ml 8 points 3 months ago

This is the perfect time to go aggressive on telling your friends to switch to Firefox

[–] Zicoxy3@lemmy.ml 6 points 3 months ago

the big companies, technological or not, always do the same thing... they launch a good product, very cheap (or free). When they already have a big market, they start cutting back. In the case of food, they raise prices, cut products, slightly change the taste... In the case of technology, they raise prices, cut the product, eliminate features....

That a company like Google, dedicated to data, has its own browser and pays to include it as standard in cell phones, it is clear that it is not going to stand still when an addon for its browser blocks part of its business...In this case, very few will switch browsers. That means changing habits. Already did with Google Photos.... . Tiene miles de millones de fotos y vídeos de menores, de fiestas, íntimas... Ofrece espacio gratuíto y después, le pagas por ello, porque tienes tu vida ahí.... Or with Google Maps. It's a great service, but it knows where you go, what for, your schedules... a brutal security problem...or with email.... it reads everything. Because otherwise it will add you to the calendar when you take a flight without having opened the confirmation email...

I've never stopped using Firefox. Google pays it too, but it's the only one that's independent. And then there's Waterfox, Librewolf, PaleMoon... Run away from Google... there are alternatives.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

[–] XTL@sopuli.xyz 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Google pulls the plug on uBlock Origin

No they don't. And can't. It's not their product.

Headlines these days. Are they all complete lies?

[–] blusterydayve26@midwest.social 14 points 3 months ago

I’ll assume you’re being intentionally obtuse because no one could actually be that dumb.

[–] unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz 6 points 3 months ago

Netscape Navigator is clearly superior to Internet Explorer. except that Andreessen guy became a Facebook bro. Shame nothing came of that. Oh well, guess I'll use Firefox.

[–] istanbullu@lemmy.ml 5 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Are chromium derivatives like Brave affected?

[–] TheNickOfTime@fedia.io 14 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Sadly yes. Almost all, if not all derivates are affected since they inherit the codebase from it. Unless they implement manual Manifest v2 patches + have their own extension store they manage

[–] sparky@lemmy.federate.cc 4 points 3 months ago

So that basically means that Firefox and Safari are the only two unaffected, since it seems like everything else is Chromium these days. Yikes.

[–] dev_null@lemmy.ml 3 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Vivaldi said they will keep V2 support. Not forever, but as long as they are able.

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[–] XTL@sopuli.xyz 5 points 3 months ago

Brave is a series scam company.

[–] Dudewitbow@lemmy.zip 4 points 3 months ago

all chromium browsers are affected, so if a chromium browser wants to support manifest v2, they have to manually maintain it separately from the main chromium build. whether individual companies will do so ofc is tbd. braves built in browser probably not affe ted

Lots of firefox mentions, no mention of Vivaldi tho...?

[–] Mikina@programming.dev 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (6 children)

If it keeps going on like this, it won't be long before I'll just say fuck it and switch to elinks...

Hmm, on that note - is there any CLI web browser that can do javascript and css? Because iirc, elinks doesn't, though I havent used it in years.

[–] unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Lynx ftw! Not sure if that's been maintained since the 90s though.

[–] dunz@feddit.nu 3 points 3 months ago

You can't improve on perfection!

[–] tetris11@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 months ago

browsh does, but uses FF as backend renderer

[–] TheNickOfTime@fedia.io 3 points 3 months ago

it won't be long before I'll just say fuck it and switch to elinks...

Holy mother of BASED

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[–] Aussiemandeus@aussie.zone 3 points 3 months ago

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

[–] vzq@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 months ago (5 children)

I’ve heard reasonably good reports about ublock origin lite (uBOL), the manifest V3 implementation. I haven’t made the jump yet, though.

[–] muntedcrocodile@lemm.ee 15 points 3 months ago

Come to firefox or even better librewolf dont let google ass fuck you.

[–] ReversalHatchery 10 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

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.

[–] ivn@jlai.lu 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

It 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.
[–] CrypticCoffee@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

This is the bargaining stage of the five stages of grief.

Maybe it's Stockholm Syndrome.

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