Google Drops Supports for Ad-Block

Manifest V2 is dying

Thanks, Google.

Google had pushed for all extensions to transition from Manifest V2 to Manifest V3.

The sitch:

Google has been transitioning Chrome extensions from Manifest V2 to Manifest V3, a new framework designed to enhance privacy and security. However, this transition has significant implications for ad-blocking extensions like:

uBlock Origin

Why the fuss about uBlock Origin?

If you haven't had uBlock Origin in your Chrome (also why Chrome), you've missed quite a lot. It makes web surfing in a ad-ridden internet tolerable. It's also lightweight and protect yourself from fraudulent and malicious ads. It doesn't matter if it's from a niche site, or a mainstream one.

The FBI has recommended using ad blockers in general to protect against malicious ads in their official statements. And uBlock Origin is the popular and effective ad-blocking tool. [Citation]

The impact on uBlock Origin:

Google has started disabling uBlock Origin on Chrome because it is built on Manifest V2, which is being phased out. Users are prompted to remove the extension as it is "no longer supported" as mentioned above the video.

Alternative?

An alternative, uBlock Origin Lite, is available for Manifest V3, but it

lacks the full capabilities of the original uBlock Origin due to the limitations imposed by Manifest V3.

My Grievance and general consensus:

Google is prioritizing advertisers' interests over users' privacy and control, and to an extent, their safety. They have history of recommending scam sites into their search results that harmed users before. [Citation] Many are considering switching to browsers like Firefox, which continues to support Manifest V2 extensions. But even then. Firefox isn't entirely safe. [Mirror Link]

Chromium-based alternative

Looks like the viable option is migrating to another browser that isn't Google Chrome (still, why were you using that?). uBlock Origin Lite is but a temporary solution to a long term problem. One browser I'd recommend because of its built-in blocker is Brave browser. Despite some of you may think that Brave is some cryptomining ware or it's A.I. ridden, I'm here to inform you that it's easy to turn them off from the settings. It's as friendly to non-crypto bros, trust me.

Opera exists, yeah, I'm not sure it's guaranteed to protect its user's privacy.

Ungoogled Chromium, if you're so attached to Chrome.

Vivaldi is a good alternative with my limited time tinkering with that browser.

Firefox-like Alternative

Link here and here explains why it's not recommended to get out of box Mozilla Firefox. There's alternative to them with something like Librewolf, Waterfox, and the hip new Gecko-based browser Zen - which I used right now - are good alternative that supports Manifest V2.

There are obviously more ways than one to protect yourself and reclaim the internet as it was before the spamming a.i. ads. Let's discuss it below in this thread! Of course, we could try to find another ad-blocking extension that would work. Not sure if it would last with Manifest V3.