Google Chrome has begun a phased disabling of one of the most popular free ad blockers – uBlock Origin (uBO). The extension’s developer, Raymond Hill, shared a screenshot that shows the web browser automatically disabling uBO and reporting that the extension is no longer supported. This is due to the browser’s transition to a new extension specification – Manifest V3, which introduces serious restrictions for ad blockers.
Image source: ublockorigin.com
Google Chrome’s move to Manifest V3 may reduce the effectiveness of some ad blockers, including uBO. In response, the developer released a new version of the extension – uBlock Origin Lite (uBOL), which supports Manifest V3. However, he warned users that they should install it themselves: “I believe that uBOL is too different from uBO to serve as an automatic replacement. You will have to find a replacement for uBO yourself, depending on what you expect from an ad blocker. uBOL may or may not meet your expectations.”
Image source: @gorhill, @cpojer / X
Using uBOL may differ from the original version depending on what sites the user visits and how the extension is configured. In general, uBOL is less effective when dealing with sites that use ad blocker bypass technologies or when minimizing site disruptions. This is because the Manifest V3 specification places restrictions on the use of the Declarative Net Request (DNR) API. Therefore, many filters that were supported by the original version of uBO cannot be adapted to DNR rules, which limits the capabilities of uBOL.
In a statement to The Verge, Google spokesman Scott Westover said that more than 93% of actively supported extensions in the Chrome Web Store already use Manifest V3, and all popular ad blockers such as AdBlock, Adblock Plus, uBlock Origin and AdGuard. have versions compatible with Manifest V3, and users have plenty to choose from. With Google planning a full transition to Manifest V3 in early 2025, the company said it will begin disabling extensions based on Manifest V2 later this year.