Google’s Chrome extension cull hits uBlock Origin amid Manifest V3 rollout

Tech giant Google is taking the removal of deprecated extensions one step further. It has moved uBlock Origin and others as it is moving Chrome into its new Manifest V3 extension.

Users have taken to Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) to share that Chrome had automatically disabled the older extensions. They reported that a notification popped up stating that it was “no longer supported”.

Media reports stated that the update is building on the drawn-out process of Google trying to totally abandon Manifest V2. The server had lost support officially in October 2023. Accordingly, any extension which has not been upgraded to Manifest V3 is being disabled or removed from the Chrome web store.

Why is uBlock Origin being disabled?

A report in The Verge stated that Google is claiming that Manifest V3 is designed to improve privacy and security by restricting certain extension capabilities. Reportedly, this shift has also made it harder for ad blockers like uBlock Origin to function effectively.

Although uBlock Origin Lite will remain available, its capabilities of filtering ads will be limited due to Manifest V3’s restrictions.

Users and developers have both criticised this decision alike. They, according to the Verge, have argued that the changes are benefitting advertisers at the expense of user control over online content.

Also Read : Russian anchor mocks British army after UK pledges military aid to Ukraine, here’s what he said

Impact on other browsers

Reportedly, after Google Chrome, other Chromium-based browsers like Microsoft Edge and Brave are also not capable of supporting Manifest V2 extensions. Brave has confirmed that it will be in a position to offer ‘limited support’ for ad blockers after the transition takes place.

However, there are conflicts on Mozilla’s end. Reportedly, Firefox will be lenient enough to back the Manifest V2 extensions. This will thereby allow the users of uBlock Origin to access the full version of this extension. This will make it a strong potential candidate for users who want an alternative to continue using ad-blocking tools in their stronger forms.

What users can expect

The Verge report stated that for affected users, Chrome is now displaying a pop-up notification under the extensions tab. They are warning them that outdated extensions have been turned off. They offer two options—remove the extension immediately or manage extensions for further review.

The change is already impacting a wide user base, The Verge stated, citing a report from Bleeping Computer which confirmed that extensions were disabled on staff devices.

Also Read : Winter storm Lola to bring blizzard conditions to Plains, Midwest; check which states will be impacted

FAQs

1. Why is Google getting rid of uBlock Origin?

Google is updating its rules for extensions with something called Manifest V3. This update changes how extensions work and limits some features that uBlock Origin needs. So, that means it has to go.

1. What can users use instead?

Users can try uBlock Origin Lite, but it doesn’t have as many features. Another option is to use Firefox, which still supports the full version of uBlock Origin.