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August 12th, 2024

Google is killing one of Chrome's biggest ad blockers

Google will disable uBlock Origin in Chrome due to a framework transition, prompting concerns about ad blockers' future. A compliant alternative, uBlock Origin Lite, lacks some original features.

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Google is killing one of Chrome's biggest ad blockers

Google is set to disable uBlock Origin, one of Chrome's most popular ad blockers, as it transitions from the Manifest V2 to the Manifest V3 framework. This change is intended to enhance the safety and efficiency of browser extensions but will also limit the functionality of complex extensions like uBlock Origin. Currently, uBlock Origin has over 30 million users, but it will soon be automatically disabled by Chrome updates, although users may temporarily re-enable it. The developer of uBlock Origin, Raymond Hill, has created a new version called uBlock Origin Lite, which complies with Manifest V3 but lacks some features of the original, such as dynamic filters and capabilities to bypass anti-ad-blocking measures. Hill has stated that uBlock Origin Lite is not a direct replacement for the original and users will need to find alternatives based on their ad-blocking needs. While uBlock Origin will continue to function on other browsers like Firefox and Edge, Google's move has raised concerns about the future of ad blockers in Chrome, especially given the company's recent controversies surrounding advertising practices.

- Google is transitioning Chrome to a new extension framework that will disable uBlock Origin.

- uBlock Origin Lite has been developed as a compliant alternative but lacks some original features.

- Users will need to find replacements for uBlock Origin as it will not be automatically replaced by uBlock Origin Lite.

- The change raises concerns about the future of ad blockers in Chrome amid Google's advertising practices.

- uBlock Origin will still work on other browsers, including Firefox and Edge.

Related

Google drops plan to remove ad-tracking cookies on Chrome

Google drops plan to remove ad-tracking cookies on Chrome

Google has decided to keep ad-tracking cookies on Chrome, allowing users to choose whether to block or allow them. This change aims to address concerns from the advertising industry.

uBlock Origin Lite (Manifest V3) by Gorhill

uBlock Origin Lite (Manifest V3) by Gorhill

uBlock Origin is a free, open-source ad-blocking extension developed by Raymond Hill in 2014. It is available on major browsers and emphasizes user privacy and efficient resource usage.

Google Chrome warns uBlock Origin may soon be disabled

Google Chrome warns uBlock Origin may soon be disabled

Google Chrome warns uBlock Origin users to switch to alternatives as support for Manifest v2 extensions will end. MV3 compliance poses challenges for ad blocker developers, with a transition expected by early 2025.

Chrome's Manifest V3, and its changes for ad blocking, are coming real soon

Chrome's Manifest V3, and its changes for ad blocking, are coming real soon

Google Chrome's Manifest V3 will soon be mandatory, affecting ad blockers like uBlock Origin. Users face warnings about V2 support loss, while a "Lite" version will comply with new guidelines.

uBlock Origin could soon stop working in Chrome

uBlock Origin could soon stop working in Chrome

Google warns uBlock Origin users of potential discontinuation due to the phase-out of Manifest v2. The extension's creator will not adapt it for Manifest v3, prompting users to seek alternatives.

Link Icon 22 comments
By @krackers - 5 months
Exactly as they intended. They can claim all they want that this is for security and that they're "supportive" of adblockers, but if you read the meeting minutes it's clear that they're just phoning it in in terms of the API surface needed to properly support adblocking against a hostile web.

https://github.com/w3c/webextensions/blob/56dc974e5d583d6989...

https://github.com/w3c/webextensions/blob/01ac3748984f31885c...

By @StableAlkyne - 5 months
Using their browser business to artificially force the market to be more kind to their advertising business?

Google's monopoly can't get broken up soon enough.

By @hosteur - 5 months
Why do tech savvy people still use a browser from an ad company?
By @Fire-Dragon-DoL - 5 months
I was thinking, uBlock is getting "isolated" to Firefox, since sooner or later all chromium based browsers will face challenges with removal of manifest v3 code.

However, one thing that could be done is integrate uBlock into a chromium based browser. The removal of manifest v3 would still be painful, but uBlock would survive and we get a browser with exceptional ad blocking capabilities builtin

By @LunicLynx - 5 months
Switch to firefox
By @est - 5 months
At this point, why do extension/plugin authors bother to comply with ManifestV3 anyway? Just inject into chrome.exe and tinker with those network ABIs directly. Just like the good ol' days.
By @mrinfinitiesx - 5 months
https://github.com/tycrek/degoogle

A good read. It's fun exploring and tinkering with all the softwares out there.

By @gradstudent - 5 months
Great? Please block your way to irrelevancy Google, and take your browser with you.
By @gnabgib - 5 months
Discussion (169 points, 9 days ago, 43 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41140185
By @wiseowise - 5 months
> When that happens, uBlock Origin fans will need to find a different ad blocker… or a different web browser.

Sheep will still continue using Chrome despite their interests being stomped upon.

By @Animats - 5 months
> or a different web browser.

It's time, if you haven't already.

By @can16358p - 5 months
With the track record of Google, I'd love to see people so annoyed by ads starting a movement to switch to other browsers, essentially rendering Google shooting themselves in their foot with this move, starting Google's downfall in terms of browser dominance (and many others).
By @hilbert42 - 5 months
Thanks Google. Nothing else is likely to sink Chrome's market share faster.
By @nomilk - 5 months
I haven’t followed this but it sounds like the internet is about to become unbearable from chrome.

Does this affect firefox? If so, what alternatives are there? (I know of brave but heard it’s not so good). Perhaps safari? But it feels quite different to chrome and Firefox and will take some getting used to.

By @janandonly - 5 months
The obvious solution is to build a complete browser compiled in WASM and release it as a Chrome extension.

This new in-browser-browser can then have a good support for stuff like uBlock Origine or whatever else one pleases.

This way you still use chrome while making chrome irrelevant.

By @ricc - 5 months
Time to start using Brave then?
By @lelanthran - 5 months
Anyone got a deep dive link (or willing to deep dive in a comment here) on how the best adblockers actually work?

I'm assuming it's not simply a DNS blacklist, correct? There must be more to it than simply blocking known domains.

By @jokoon - 5 months
I've read that there is a ublock for manifest v3

Is that new ublock less capable?

By @cranberryturkey - 5 months
firefox users unaffected. :-D
By @ChrisArchitect - 5 months
[dupe] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41140185
By @MangoCoffee - 5 months
Microsoft's decision to bundle IE with Windows was considered a monopoly. Similarly, Google's move to kill off Chrome's extensions for ad revenue is comparable to Microsoft's actions.