Author Topic: uBlock and other AdBlocks in Chrome will lose most functionality in a month  (Read 2345 times)

rcjordan

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...when G's Manifestv3 is implemented

We had an old thread warning on this, couldn't find it.


I cannot live without Tampermonkey, and I *may* be able to duplicate some of Ublock, Scriptsafe, & Adblock funtionality with TM *but* it isn't confirmed that TM will run in M3. (G is talking with TM directly, though.)

But that makes a Chromebook problematic.
I may be forced to FF, but the usual install in Android FF --yuck! --and no desktop extensions. Nope.

And alternative is FF ESR.

Can You Install Firefox on Chromebook? Yes, But It's Complicated
https://www.lifewire.com/install-firefox-on-chromebook-5084929

ergophobe

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These popped up in my feed a while back....

How I turned an old Chromebook Pixel into a native Linux laptop running Ubuntu
https://www.aboutchromebooks.com/news/how-to-turn-an-old-chromebook-pixel-into-native-linux-ubuntu-laptop/

also
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/How+to+convert+a+generic+Chromebook+to+Linux+OS/108259

But a lot of the advantage of a Chromebook is precisely the fact that it is NOT a "real" laptop.

rcjordan

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M3 does not allow 'remote code' to be injected by the extensions.  The trouble is that even user js is apparently considered to be remote code.  *AND* switching to FF may be a short-lived solution, as Mozilla was reported to be favorably reviewing M3 tech.

Hell, my browser is ALL ABOUT user-injected code.

rcjordan

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"With full functionality at stake for plugin makers, Firefox creator Mozilla said it'll mostly adopt Manifest V3, but it won’t replace the blocking webRequest API uBlock relies on with Google's alternative, declarativeNetRequest (DNR)."

Google Chrome extensions update could be the end of ad-blockers as we know it | TechSpot
https://www.techspot.com/news/91474-google-could-dismantling-ad-blockers-chrome-extensions-update.html

Brad

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I wonder if this will effect ad blocking in Vivaldi.  Vivaldi uses Chromium, but has ad blocking built into the browser.

rcjordan

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>Vivaldi

Some year-old chatter here, but no statements found from Viv.  That said, many|most of the 'offending' extensions used on Viv would be removed.

The Register article on latest Manifest v3 status. | Vivaldi Forum
https://forum.vivaldi.net/topic/54233/the-register-article-on-latest-manifest-v3-status

G has moved the closing date to Jan 2023
Google: Manifest V2 Chrome extensions to stop working in 2023
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/google/google-manifest-v2-chrome-extensions-to-stop-working-in-2023/

>cannot live without Tampermonkey, and I *may* be able to duplicate some of Ublock

I'm not banking on TM being grandfathered in but the info so far hints that it might be.  Still, it is a good thing to cut dependency on ublock ahead of the nuking.  Today, I've been able to move UB's functionality used for my rss feeder entirely to TM.

+
>move UB's functionality
Also newsnow and all of the subreddits I use for news
« Last Edit: December 13, 2021, 12:24:17 AM by rcjordan »

rcjordan

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I've finished moving my UB logic for specific sites to TM and turned off all of UB's generic filtering/adblocking options except malicious scripts & sites.  My routinely read sites appear to be properly modified  to my liking but I'll have to see if some site elements were handled in the background by UB's generic filter lists.  I guess I'll now get to see some of the crap others see if/when I visit sites not on my filters. ugh!

>some of the crap

I'm still running ScriptSafe, so I'm guessing some ads are still being blocked there.  I'll see if some of its logic can be moved later after my browser settles down.

rcjordan

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"Your correspondent is a bit bummed because his favorite Chrome extension, ScriptSafe, does indeed seem to use the webRequest API to work its magic. We've asked the developer of ScriptSafe for clarification."


http://tech9bees.com/tech/google-chrome-may-block-ad-blockers-what-this-means-for-you/3513

Brad

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From tech9bees:

Quote
If Google does eventually neuter many ad blockers with this move, there are plenty of other browsers that share the same Chromium codebase, will not be affected by Google's decision and for which ad-blocking extensions are available.

Among them are Brave and the most recent versions of Opera, which come with their own ad blockers; Vivaldi, a fairly new browser from Opera's creators; beta versions of Microsoft Edge, including one for macOS; and Chromium itself,

So it's just in Google Chrome malware browser.

rcjordan

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>for which ad-blocking extensions are available.

Without chrome's massive userbase driving extension development and maintenance, not many will bother to hang around in the playstore.  They'll drop like flies.

rcjordan

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Re: uBlock and other AdBlocks in Chrome will lose most functionality in a month
« Reply #10 on: December 14, 2021, 03:40:54 PM »
>cannot live without Tampermonkey, and I *may* be able to duplicate some of Ublock

OK, this went well. I just completed a run-through of my reading routines without UB and everything looks stark & barren ---just like I like it, hhh.

Now to tackle some of ScriptSafe's functionality.  I use SS mainly to block js but it also blocks 3rd party sites like cdns or adservers. This might be above my pay grade.

grnidone

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Re: uBlock and other AdBlocks in Chrome will lose most functionality in a month
« Reply #11 on: December 14, 2021, 04:27:16 PM »
I won't use Chrome.  I've used Firefox for years and am very happy with it.