What you need to know
Google is transitioning Chrome's internet browser extension support from the Manifest V2 to the V3 framework.
This means users won't be able to use uBlock Origin to block ads on Google Chrome.
However, there's a new iteration of the app — uBlock Origin Lite, which is Manifest V3 compliant but doesn't boast the original version's comprehensive ad-blocking features.
Google's strategy 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 made some significant changes to 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 computer and internet users have 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 then on, users will be forced to switch to a different browser or choose another ad blocker extension.
The company that makes uBlock has released a new, lite, version, of the app that works with V3 — uBlock Origin Lite. It's worth noting that while the new app ships with quite similar features to the original version, including core ad-blocking features, it doesn't support dynamic filters for blocking scriptlet injection. The uBlock Lite version features are relatively limited due to its compliance with the Manifest V3 framework requirements.
According to uBlock Origin's developer Raymond Hill
"I consider uBO Lite to be too different from uBO to be an automatic replacement. You will have to explicitly find a replacement to uBO according to what you expect from a content blocker. uBO Lite may or may not fulfill your expectations."
Reading an article at PCWorld, Chrome's shift from Manifest V2 to V3 is retiring certain features that the popular ad-blocker relies on. The Google Chrome changes "aims to... improve the privacy, security, and performance of extensions," by changing the way it deals with API requests. That means with the soon released Chrome update, uBlock Origin will be automatically disabled.
Google has been getting tough on ad-blockers across many of its products, including YouTube. It's a real problem for the majority of internet users who try and curtail ads. But it also makes a lot of sense since that's how the tech giant gets money by offering (allegedly) free services. That said, some ad-blockers aren't safe or compliant with Google's policies, and have been used as a mechanism to share viruses.
The very commonly used ad-blocker, which has over 30 million users, reportedly is still working technically. But a disclaimer at the top of the extension page says, "This extension may soon no longer be supported because it doesn't follow best practices for Chrome extensions."
Extension developer, Raymond Hill who works on uBlock Origin has worked quickly to deploy a fix and now offers uBlock Origin Lite, which is compliant with Manifest V3. It already has 200,000 users, and still has standard ad-blocking capabilities, but is less dynamic in the sense that it requires the user to allow or block permissions on a "per-site basis." In a GitHub post about the new extension, Hill explained that it isn't intended to be a replacement for the original.
"I consider uBO Lite to be too different from uBO to be an automatic replacement," said the developer. "You will have to explicitly find a replacement to uBO according to what you expect from a content blocker. uBO Lite may or may not fulfill your expectations."
uBlock Origin still works on many other browsers, so you could always switch to a Chrome alternative like Firefox. But if you want to stick with Chrome, you have to play by Chrome's rules, and that means getting a different ad-blocker.
Conclusion
You have two options. Either switch the browser on your laptop, desktop or all-in-one to the less effective uBlock Origin Lite and keep Chrome or move to a different browser and keep using the highly effective uBlock Origin adblocker. We recommend the latter. If you need help swapping, give us a call.
Friendly Advice in Plain English.
0800 FIX NOW
Other Reading
https://www.chnz.co.nz/blogs/nasty-computer-malware
https://www.chnz.co.nz/blogs/bolo-malware-computer
https://www.chnz.co.nz/blogs/why-you-need-two-factor-authentication-tfa