The days of the uBlock Origin ad-blocking extension are numbered — at least in Chromium-based browsers. The ad blocker stopped working in Google Chrome over the weekend, and now it has been disabled in Microsoft Edge. But Mozilla has promised that Firefox will retain compatibility with this and other “legacy” Manifest V2-based extensions for now.
Image source: microsoft.com
Microsoft Edge has started showing a warning about disabling at least two extensions, one of which was uBlock Origin, telling users to remove them because they are no longer supported. Microsoft had previously said it would take this action, but did not provide a specific date.
The changes are related to the deployment of the Manifest V3 platform for browser extensions, which promises a higher level of security and more reliable protection of user privacy compared to Manifest V2. However, some tools, including those required for uBlock Origin to work, are not available in the new version. This is because the set of WebRequest API interfaces, which allows blocking ads and other content before it is loaded, has limitations in Manifest V3. For example, the extension cannot block pop-up videos or messages, which are not considered ads by default.
The process of disabling uBlock Origin in Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge has already begun, which means that for users of these browsers, the extension has either stopped working or will stop working in the near future. An alternative could be, for example, uBlock Origin Lite, authored by the same developers. It does not have the same controls as the original uBlock Origin, but it supports Manifest V3, so its disabling is not planned. There are other ad blockers that support the new version of the platform, so you can study their range.
Image source: mozilla.org
Another option is to switch browsers. In the wake of the Chromium developments, Mozilla has issued a statement assuring that Firefox will continue to support Manifest V2 alongside Manifest V3. The browser will remain compatible with the blockingWebRequest and declarativeNetRequest APIs in both platforms’ implementations, meaning extensions like uBlock Origin will continue to work. Firefox developers haven’t indicated how long this will last, but as long as there are powerful extensions that improve security and protect users’ privacy, there are still good reasons to stick with Manifest V2.
The decision is a matter of adhering to Mozilla’s own manifesto, whose “Fifth Principle” states that “people should have the opportunity to shape the web and the way they experience it.” Support for Manifest V3 arrived in Firefox in November 2022, when Mozilla said it would consider removing support for Manifest V2 by the end of 2023; in March 2024, the company said it had no plans to remove it anytime soon.