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submitted 4 months ago by Alsephina@lemmy.ml to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

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 99 points 4 months ago

Friends don't let friends run Chrome.

[-] LoamImprovement@beehaw.org 19 points 4 months ago

Switched to Firefox in 2023 and it's wild how much shit just works now.

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[-] BearOfaTime@lemm.ee 12 points 4 months ago

Couldn't have said it better.

[-] foremanguy92_@lemmy.ml 77 points 4 months ago

Not only intrusive ads, intrusive trackers too

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[-] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 56 points 4 months ago

Remember like 2 weeks ago when Google's very own ad networks were distributing malware?

Pepperidge Farm remembers.

[-] TaintPuncher@lemmy.ml 47 points 4 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 22 points 4 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 7 points 4 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.

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[-] variants@possumpat.io 18 points 4 months ago

Even cheaper to just stop using chrome

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 9 points 4 months ago

Don't use Chrome. It has plenty of issues including backdoors by Google.

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[-] zod000@lemmy.ml 46 points 4 months ago

Screw you Google. Enjoy your antitrust.

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 13 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)
[-] Daxtron2@startrek.website 43 points 4 months ago

Its a good thing I've been using Firefox for almost 2 decades then.

[-] Ranger 40 points 4 months ago

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

[-] ActionHank@sopuli.xyz 11 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

Or the Mullvad browser, Mullvad's fork of FF with zero ads with help from the Tor project.

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[-] Mixel@szmer.info 9 points 4 months ago

Firefox is now owned by ads company. By default there are enabled telemetrics and moreover companies starts to ignore compability of their web services with browser which market share is lower than 2% even goverments stops considering that browser. Mozzila instead of optimization of their browser spend time introduceing features like AI. I was trying to like that browser but mozzila effectively does not allow me. Now btw. I use just vivaldi. I know this is not fully open source.

[-] LeLachs@lemmy.ml 9 points 4 months ago

Which "ads company"? No offense, just curious.

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[-] Modva@lemmy.world 40 points 4 months ago

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

[-] panicnow@lemmy.world 38 points 4 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 38 points 4 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.

[-] lud@lemm.ee 10 points 4 months ago

Moving bookmarks takes about 10 seconds to do.

[-] blackwateropeth@lemmy.world 7 points 4 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.

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[-] Kekzkrieger@feddit.org 34 points 4 months ago

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

[-] crazyminner@lemmy.ml 34 points 4 months ago

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

[-] charonn0@startrek.website 15 points 4 months ago

Bust this trust.

[-] Mikina@programming.dev 13 points 4 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 19 points 4 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 9 points 4 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.

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[-] tetris11@lemmy.ml 13 points 4 months ago

mullvad browser is based on FF

[-] jsomae@lemmy.ml 11 points 4 months ago

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

[-] Mikina@programming.dev 10 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 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.

[-] TheNickOfTime@fedia.io 6 points 4 months ago

it won't be long before I'll just say fuck it and switch to elinks...

Holy mother of BASED

[-] unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz 6 points 4 months ago

Lynx ftw! Not sure if that's been maintained since the 90s though.

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[-] XTL@sopuli.xyz 10 points 4 months ago

Google pulls the plug on uBlock Origin

No they don't. And can't. It's not their product.

Headlines these days. Are they all complete lies?

[-] blusterydayve26@midwest.social 16 points 4 months ago

I’ll assume you’re being intentionally obtuse because no one could actually be that dumb.

[-] x00z@lemmy.world 10 points 4 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.

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[-] chalupapocalypse@lemmy.world 9 points 4 months ago

Does this affect edge as well? Pushing out ublock via policy to both edge and chrome has saved me a lot of headaches at work, this is gonna be a pain in the dick.

[-] unwarlikeExtortion@lemmy.ml 16 points 4 months ago

Yup, it affects all chromium browsers AFAIK

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[-] unemployedclaquer@sopuli.xyz 7 points 4 months ago

Netscape Navigator is clearly superior to Internet Explorer. except that Andreessen guy became a Facebook bro. Shame nothing came of that. Oh well, guess I'll use Firefox.

[-] Zicoxy3@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 months ago

the big companies, technological or not, always do the same thing... they launch a good product, very cheap (or free). When they already have a big market, they start cutting back. In the case of food, they raise prices, cut products, slightly change the taste... In the case of technology, they raise prices, cut the product, eliminate features....

That a company like Google, dedicated to data, has its own browser and pays to include it as standard in cell phones, it is clear that it is not going to stand still when an addon for its browser blocks part of its business...In this case, very few will switch browsers. That means changing habits. Already did with Google Photos.... . Tiene miles de millones de fotos y vídeos de menores, de fiestas, íntimas... Ofrece espacio gratuíto y después, le pagas por ello, porque tienes tu vida ahí.... Or with Google Maps. It's a great service, but it knows where you go, what for, your schedules... a brutal security problem...or with email.... it reads everything. Because otherwise it will add you to the calendar when you take a flight without having opened the confirmation email...

I've never stopped using Firefox. Google pays it too, but it's the only one that's independent. And then there's Waterfox, Librewolf, PaleMoon... Run away from Google... there are alternatives.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

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this post was submitted on 15 Aug 2024
666 points (100.0% liked)

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