Google pulls the plug on uBlock Origin, leaving over 30 million Chrome users susceptible to intrusive ads
Google pulls the plug on uBlock Origin, leaving over 30 million Chrome users susceptible to intrusive ads
Google ramps up its campaign against ad blockers on Chrome.
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.
Friends don't let friends run Chrome.
Switched to Firefox in 2023 and it's wild how much shit just works now.
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 Many people who keep using Chrome have a VERY outdated view of what Firefox can do.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.
Couldn't have said it better.
Not only intrusive ads, intrusive trackers too
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
For sure
Remember like 2 weeks ago when Google's very own ad networks were distributing malware?
Pepperidge Farm remembers.
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.
Even if my Internet provider forced me to use their router I'd plug my own router in behind that one fuck that.
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.
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.
Even cheaper to just stop using chrome
Don't use Chrome. It has plenty of issues including backdoors by Google.
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.
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.
Screw you Google. Enjoy your antitrust.
Its a good thing I've been using Firefox for almost 2 decades then.
Moved to Firefox some months ago, it's fine. Small adjustment but browsers generally offer high interchangeability
Stop using chrome and move to Firefox, also stop using Windows and more to Linux.
Firefox is now owned by ads company. By default there are enabled telemetrics and moreover companies starts to ignore compability of their web services with browser which market share is lower than 2% even goverments stops considering that browser. Mozzila instead of optimization of their browser spend time introduceing features like AI. I was trying to like that browser but mozzila effectively does not allow me. Now btw. I use just vivaldi. I know this is not fully open source.
Google is Mozilla’s dad so I’m not sure how long we will be able to use FF with v2.
Even a short-lived chance to cling to Fx is worth something. Hopefully they will team up with others to port the missing parts to v3.
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:00000002At 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.
you could instead just download firefox, which isnt perfect either but still a huge improvement over any chromium browser
And thus, this day will be remembered as the great browser migration.
Bust this trust.
I'm not sure what Mullvad is based on - i think it's on Tor, which is Firefox based?
I do use mostly LibreWolf, but if FF also went to shit, I wonder if Tor, and thus Mullvad, would keep on going or not. Because I suppose LibreWolf would have troubles with keeping up, if Mozilla would enshitify FF, since they would probably have to fork and continue development on their own.
Browser engines are ridiculously complex, nearly on the level of operating systems. All of the Firefox forks are really just different UIs built around Gecko/Quantum - those other projects aren't really maintaining their own engines, they're dependent on Mozilla's work to remain stable, secure and relevant.
mullvad browser is based on FF
This is the perfect time to go aggressive on telling your friends to switch to Firefox
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.
This reminds me that Microsoft and Google have been intensely "collaborating" with code for Linux kernel as well... Too good to be true good-hearted actions from those corporations...
Don't forget stupid DRM bullshit.
https://www.w3.org/TR/2024/WD-encrypted-media-2-20240718/
Editors: Joey Parrish (Google Inc.) Greg Freedman (Netflix Inc.) Former editors: Mark Watson (Netflix Inc.) (Until September 2019) David Dorwin (Google Inc.) (Until September 2017) Jerry Smith (Microsoft Corporation) (Until September 2017) Adrian Bateman (Microsoft Corporation) (Until May 2014)
Google pulls the plug on uBlock Origin
No they don't. And can't. It's not their product.
Headlines these days. Are they all complete lies?
I’ll assume you’re being intentionally obtuse because no one could actually be that dumb.
If it keeps going on like this, it won't be long before I'll just say fuck it and switch to elinks...
Hmm, on that note - is there any CLI web browser that can do javascript and css? Because iirc, elinks doesn't, though I havent used it in years.
it won't be long before I'll just say fuck it and switch to elinks...
Holy mother of BASED
Lynx ftw! Not sure if that's been maintained since the 90s though.
You can't improve on perfection!
Lynx is still actively maintained. I use it from time to time when I don't feel like leaving the command line to look something up or whatever. It works really well still. So long as all you care about is text.
If you like to use reader mode you'll probably like Lynx.
browsh does, but uses FF as backend renderer
The sooner you abandon javascript and css, the sooner you can be free
Elinks for can do basic CSS & JS. I wish there were better support for like 256 or 16 color modes for CSS to better support TUIs. The reading UX is generally pretty good, but stuff like syntax highlighting really helps. …That is if website makers did their job correctly & treated JavaScript as an enhancement. The bigger issue is even in the case of limited JS support like Netsurf, most developers aren’t going to be writing ES3 or ES5-compatible code which is about all most of these systems can support which means the JS will be broken anyhow without keeping their engines up to date.
https://github.com/fathyb/carbonyl
This is more usable than browsh, in my experience, but has the very unfortunate downside of being based on Chromium (🤢)
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.
Yup, it affects all chromium browsers AFAIK
In future news: Work efficiency drops dramatically because all workers have to fight with ads while researching solutions 😮
Microsoft still hasn't made a stance. However, Edge isn't private and is an advertising platform.
Maybe figure out if you can do a very customized version of Firefox. I would take inspiration from Librewolf but keep in mind things will break if you start applying privacy patches.
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)
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.
Are chromium derivatives like Brave affected?
Sadly yes. Almost all, if not all derivates are affected since they inherit the codebase from it. Unless they implement manual Manifest v2 patches + have their own extension store they manage
Yes, however Brave's built-in ad blocker is not
Brave is a series scam company.
all chromium browsers are affected, so if a chromium browser wants to support manifest v2, they have to manually maintain it separately from the main chromium build. whether individual companies will do so ofc is tbd. braves built in browser probably not affe ted
Lots of firefox mentions, no mention of Vivaldi tho...?
Cat and mouse game, it’s better to DNS block ads.
DNS blocker will be as useful or maybe even less than ubo lite. E.g. it just cannot block youtube ads like ubo does.
Also Google and removed both bypass your DNS blocker. They use their own DNS server and DoH protocol to resolve their ad servers. DoH is also hard to block because it uses port 443 with https.
The best bet right now is to use either a DNS or even better: packet filter level blocker such as zenarmor; together with ublock origin on firefox. Nothing else will not really block tracking in 2024.
Or, here me out, don't use Chome
I'm not sure if it's related, but I've been getting popups that prevent navigation away from pages on the Google Android browsers
Why does it need to run remotely hosted code though?
Because the ads constantly change across the websites. Adblocking is naturally a cat-and-mouse dynamic. However, the "remotely hosted code" Adblockers use is not exactly "code" (as in a JavaScript code, for example), it's more a Regex code containing patterns for the different websites and different behaviors (for example, the pattern for the pesky HTML element containing the ad, or the pattern for some ad-serving domain). Google is extrapolating their meaning of "remotely hosted code" purposely, so they can "justify" their measures.
Fair. Pulling rules makes sense. Code wouldn’t. (I wouldn’t consider regex as code.)
Thanks for the details.
Honestly, I blame developers who, some years ago, decided it was a good idea to centralize the browsers into the same engine. Yeah, it was hellish to maintain code for all browsers at the time (IE5, IE6, Firefox, Safari, etc), but it was paradise compared to our current scenario: at least we really had options: WebKit, Trident, Gecko, as well as lots of smaller, almost unknown engines. Now, all modern browsers are different wrappings of Chromium or Firefox, while most modern sites are developed without the active worry to keep Firefox compatible (one can notice how modern HTML5 features varies across both of them). It has no easy solution. Don't update, maybe? (Until sites start to complain about the outdated version)
