Google is Killing uBlock Origin

Preview:

Google's move to Manifest 3 is killing the best Ad blocking software. Is this because Google makes its money selling ads? In any case, here is how it will affect you and my suggestions for different browsers. Firefox users will not be affected.

What is Google Doing?

Google has been working to change the rules for extensions. These include ad-blockers and many other things. Many of their changes from what was Manifest V2 (MV2) to the newer Manifest V3 (MV3) make sense. They will produce faster, cleaner code. However, some seem to directly targeted at crippling ad-blockers. Remember, Google is an advertising company. They make their money by selling the ads which ad-blockers block.

The base Chromium engine is used by Brave, MS Edge, Chrome, and Vivaldi among others. This base is removing MV2 support. Brave is committed to continuing to support MV2 for a few privacy and security centered extensions like uBlock Origin. Microsoft and Google will stop allowing them. Vivaldi won't give us a clear answer.

Firefox doesn't use the Chromium engine and will continue to support MV2 and the full uBlock Origin into the foreseeable future. Safari is less clear about how long they will support it.

What Should You Do?

I strongly recommend that you do not use either Google's Chrome browser or Microsoft's Edge browser. Clients who use those browsers end up with 3-5 times as many trackers, even with a tracker blocker like uBlock Origin installed. Both Microsoft and Google make much of their income selling and tracking you. I recommend Firefox as the best alternative, but Brave is also good and Vivaldi is reasonable, particularly if you like to tinker a lot. These companies do not track you and sell your browsing information.

However, for those of you using Chrome or Edge, I recommend choosing either uBlock Origin Lite or Ghostery. Raymond Hill, the developer of uBlock Origin, is doing the best he can with MV3 compliance with his lite version. It isn't as good as the full version, but it works almost as well. Ghostery is from the old Cliqz company and is also making a pretty good MV3 compatible version of their excellent ad blocker and antitracker.

Keeping clients' computers safe and profitable for over 30 years

Home Forms About Current Newsletter subscribe Search All Articles Browse by Category Security Internet Mobile Business Hardware Fun		Google is Killing uBlock Origin Preview: Google's move to Manifest 3 is killing the best Ad blocking software. Is this because Google makes its money selling ads? In any case, here is how it will affect you and my suggestions for different browsers. Firefox users will not be affected. What is Google Doing? Google has been working to change the rules for extensions. These include ad-blockers and many other things. Many of their changes from what was Manifest V2 (MV2) to the newer Manifest V3 (MV3) make sense. They will produce faster, cleaner code. However, some seem to directly targeted at crippling ad-blockers. Remember, Google is an advertising company. They make their money by selling the ads which ad-blockers block. The base Chromium engine is used by Brave, MS Edge, Chrome, and Vivaldi among others. This base is removing MV2 support. Brave is committed to continuing to support MV2 for a few privacy and security centered extensions like uBlock Origin. Microsoft and Google will stop allowing them. Vivaldi won't give us a clear answer. Firefox doesn't use the Chromium engine and will continue to support MV2 and the full uBlock Origin into the foreseeable future. Safari is less clear about how long they will support it. What Should You Do? I strongly recommend that you do not use either Google's Chrome browser or Microsoft's Edge browser. Clients who use those browsers end up with 3-5 times as many trackers, even with a tracker blocker like uBlock Origin installed. Both Microsoft and Google make much of their income selling and tracking you. I recommend Firefox as the best alternative, but Brave is also good and Vivaldi is reasonable, particularly if you like to tinker a lot. These companies do not track you and sell your browsing information. However, for those of you using Chrome or Edge, I recommend choosing either uBlock Origin Lite or Ghostery. Raymond Hill, the developer of uBlock Origin, is doing the best he can with MV3 compliance with his lite version. It isn't as good as the full version, but it works almost as well. Ghostery is from the old Cliqz company and is also making a pretty good MV3 compatible version of their excellent ad blocker and antitracker. Further Reading Bleeping Computer uBlock Origin FAQ Date: September 2024 This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
		I attempt to provide reliable information, but make no warranty as to the accuracy or safety of these articles. I disclaim all legal responsibility for what following these instructions may do. Follow my advice at your own risk

Keeping clients' computers safe and profitable for over 30 years

Google is Killing uBlock Origin

Preview:

What is Google Doing?

What Should You Do?

Further Reading