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 Many people who keep using Chrome have a VERY outdated view of what Firefox can do.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

    • The Cuuuuube
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      39 months ago

      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

  • _haha_oh_wow_
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    469 months ago

    Remember like 2 weeks ago when Google’s very own ad networks were distributing malware?

    Pepperidge Farm remembers.

  • @TaintPuncher@lemmy.ml
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    409 months ago

    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
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      189 months ago

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

      • @ArbiterXero@lemmy.world
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        79 months ago

        Some isp’s have been detecting the second router and giving people shit for it.

        But I’m with you on that, I don’t trust the isp’s backdoored router-modem. Hard pass.

        • youmaynotknow
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          69 months ago

          Some isp’s have been detecting the second router and giving people shit for it.

          Giving people shit how? This is the first time I hear something like this. In my case, my ISP does not allow bridging a router, so I NAT mine instead, and it works just fine.

          • @ArbiterXero@lemmy.world
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            29 months ago

            Yeah, they can still tell that you’re Nat behind another router.

            But they don’t like it because it gives them less access to your network and more possibility for something to be wrong

            • @socphoenix@midwest.social
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              49 months ago

              I’ve never had an isp complain about me using my own router in the US, is this just common in other countries or have I just been lucky?

              • @ArbiterXero@lemmy.world
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                49 months ago

                It’s a rarity afaik, I’ve only heard of one or two cases, but a concerning report to me personally.

                Though I’m Canadian so it’ll be a few years before it filters here (assuming it catches on)

            • TXL
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              19 months ago

              Don’t NAT. Just bump in the wire firewall plus local DNS server.

      • @elfpie@beehaw.org
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        29 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.

    • @nucleative@lemmy.world
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      49 months ago

      Second this, Pihole is great and protects every device on your network too - mobile phones, smart TVs, tablets, Nintendo Switches, etc.

      It’s wild how much telemetry is baked into stuff that you can just cut the nuts off of.

    • @superglue@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      19 months ago

      Its worth noting however this can cause weird problems since its system wide and even network wide if you set it up that way.

      As an example, my wifes Spotify podcasts didn’t work for months only for us to discover pihole was blocking the cdn Spotify uses.

  • @Modva@lemmy.world
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    369 months ago

    Moved to Firefox some months ago, it’s fine. Small adjustment but browsers generally offer high interchangeability

  • Nora
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    329 months ago

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

  • @panicnow@lemmy.world
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    269 months ago

    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:00000002
    
    • @blackwateropeth@lemmy.world
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      329 months ago

      At 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.

        • @blackwateropeth@lemmy.world
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          69 months ago

          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.

  • @jsomae@lemmy.ml
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    99 months ago

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

  • @x00z@lemmy.world
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    99 months ago

    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.

  • @chalupapocalypse@lemmy.world
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    99 months ago

    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.

    • Frozzie
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      129 months ago

      Yes, however Brave’s built-in ad blocker is not

    • TXL
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      29 months ago

      Brave is a series scam company.

  • @Zicoxy3@lemmy.ml
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    39 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)

  • @unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz
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    39 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.