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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        3 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 Many people who keep using Chrome have a VERY outdated view of what Firefox can do.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@beehaw.org
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      3 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

  • TaintPuncher@lemmy.ml
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    3 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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      3 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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        3 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.

      • elfpie@beehaw.org
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        3 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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      3 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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      3 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.

  • Ranger
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    3 months ago

    Stop using chrome and move to Firefox, also stop using Windows and more to Linux.

  • Modva@lemmy.world
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    3 months ago

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

  • panicnow@lemmy.world
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    3 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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      3 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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          3 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.

    • Kekzkrieger@feddit.org
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      3 months ago

      you could instead just download firefox, which isnt perfect either but still a huge improvement over any chromium browser

  • Nora@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

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

  • Mikina@programming.dev
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    3 months ago

    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.

    • NaibofTabr@infosec.pub
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      3 months ago

      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.

      • Mikina@programming.dev
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        3 months ago

        Yeah, I know and that’s what I’m afraid of. I guess I’ll just have to come to terms with most websites not working in some obscure web browser that’s not feature-complete. Would actually help with my addiction, so it won’t be so bad, I guess.

        • CrypticCoffee@lemmy.ml
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          3 months ago

          Firefox works for nearly everything. The only stuff that doesn’t work for me is Xitter embeds, and this is a gift that keeps on giving.

  • jsomae@lemmy.ml
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    3 months ago

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

  • Mikina@programming.dev
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    3 months ago

    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.

      • Avatar_of_Self@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        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.

    • toastal@lemmy.ml
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      3 months ago

      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.

  • x00z@lemmy.world
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    3 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.