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 Chrome on PC](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/i53kbQzamv5sti8rwTnaCD-320-80.jpg)
What you need to know
- Google is transitioning Chrome's extension support from the Manifest V2 framework to the V3.
- 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 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.
A new version of uBlock Origin
The company has released a new version of the app that’s Manifest V3 compliant — uBlock Origin Lite. It's worth noting that while the new app ships with similar features to the original version, including core ad-blocking features, it doesn't support dynamic filters for blocking scriptlet injection. The Lite version's capabilities are relatively limited due to its compliance with the Manifest V3 framework threshold.
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."
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
uBlock Origin will continue to work as usual across other browsers, including Microsoft Edge, Opera, and more.
🔥The hottest trending deals🔥
- 🎮 Seagate Xbox Series X|S Card (2TB) | $249.99 at Best Buy (Save $110!)
- 🕹️Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3-months) | $29.29 at CDKeys (Save $21!)
- 🎮Lenovo Legion Go (Z1 Extreme, 512GB) | $599.99 at Best Buy (Save $100!)
- 💻HP Victus 15.6 Laptop (RTX 4050) | $599 at Walmart (Save $380!)
- 📺Amazon Fire TV Xbox Game Pass bundle | $82.85 at Amazon (Save $37!)
Kevin Okemwa is a seasoned tech journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya with lots of experience covering the latest trends and developments in the industry at Windows Central. With a passion for innovation and a keen eye for detail, he has written for leading publications such as OnMSFT, MakeUseOf, and Windows Report, providing insightful analysis and breaking news on everything revolving around the Microsoft ecosystem. You'll also catch him occasionally contributing at iMore about Apple and AI. While AFK and not busy following the ever-emerging trends in tech, you can find him exploring the world or listening to music.
-
John McIlhinney The article talks only about Chrome but does this affect other Chromium browsers too? I'm thinking not but I don't know enough about extension support to know for sure. If not, I'm even happier to be using Edge.Reply -
Golfdriver97 I tried uBlock Lite. It caused a lot of the website that I go to to load much more slowly. I removed the extension, and everything was fine. Guess I am using a different adblocker.Reply -
Golfdriver97
I was under the impression that sooner or later what happens in Chrome will trickle down to other forks.John McIlhinney said:The article talks only about Chrome but does this affect other Chromium browsers too? I'm thinking not but I don't know enough about extension support to know for sure. If not, I'm even happier to be using Edge. -
joshcsmith13 Here's the confirmed bad news, assuming that @Kevin Okemwa got it right this time: https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/browsing/google-might-be-cutting-support-for-the-worlds-most-popular-ad-blocker-but-this-windows-registry-trick-will-help-chrome-and-edge-users-keep-intrusive-ads-at-bay-for-a-year-longerReply