Google Delays the Death of Manifest V2 Extensions To 2024

AmiMoJo writes: Google announced an extension of the deadline to remove support for Manifest V2 extensions in the company's Chrome browser and the open source Chromium core. The change does not impact the core decision of removing support for Manifest V2 extensions in favor of Manifest V3. Dubbed, the adblocker killer initially, due to limitations imposed on content blocking and other types of browser extensions, Google made concessions that allows content blockers to run on Chrome after the final switch is made. Extensions are still limited in comparison to Manifest V2, especially if multiple that use filtering functionality are run simultaneously, or if lots of filters are activated in a single extension. Google's initial plan was to stop supporting Manifest V2 extensions in Chrome by June 2023. For most users, support would run out in January 2023, but an Enterprise policy would enable users to extend the deadline by six months.

Ouch...

[Cool Hands Leia]

As if millions of extensions suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.

--
Are you getting all your fruits and veggies? Suffering from stage 1 malnutrition? If you can answer either of these questions, it's time for Juice PLUS+. [karisenterprises.com]

Imminent return to Firefox...

[Vrallis]

I doubt their "concessions" will be enough to keep web browsing sane. It feels like my planned return to Firefox is still imminent.

Re:

[blahbooboo]

I doubt their "concessions" will be enough to keep web browsing sane. It feels like my planned return to Firefox is still imminent.

Do it. Firefox works well.

Re:Imminent return to Firefox...

[Megane]

I have some user CSS rules set to "display: none !important" to hide various web page elements that stink of ad-ness, as well as overriding stupid formatting choices like light on dark text (my version of Hackaday is so much more readable), or making default body text smaller and lower contrast for no good reason. There are bits of Slashdot web pages that Seamonkey has no problem blocking, but Firefox won't. In particular, the headers of the inline web ad "stories" (the red headers) can't be blocked. So Firefox is still somewhat compromised.

Re:

[rpresser]

The reason to return to Firefox is not because it's better at ad-blocking out-of-the-box. It's because Firefox has made a commitment to retain Manifest v2 APIs, so your ad-blocking **extensions** will continue to operate as they have been.

Re:

[flink]

You can easily block those sponsored stories with a uBlock Origin filter on FF. I haven't seen one in years.

Re:

[demon driver]

There are Chromium based alternatives, too, which have promised continued support of Manifest V2 extensions, most prominently Brave and Vivaldi.

Over the years, the Firefox makers have introduced too many unnecessary, unasked-for, usability-deteriorating UI changes for me to ever trust them again. Also, it has become too slow on my slowest machines.

Re:

[demon driver]

Addendum: as of https://vivaldi.com/blog/manif... [vivaldi.com] it seems that might not be possible, but they promise, "whatever restrictions Google adds, in the end, we’ll look into removing them".

The Chrome developer tools are my Achilles heel

[Frobnicator]

While I've got multiple browsers installed, my Achilles heel, my golden handcuffs, my secret heroin, the stupid thing that makes me go back to the thing I hate is the developer tools available in Chrome.

If any of the others had the same quality of tools and available plugins, I'd switch to Brave as my preference, then Firefox, but ... curse them for making such powerful useful tools while simultaneously harming my choice. I hate it, but I have to have it.

Re:

[narcc]

What tools does Chrome have that Firefox is lacking?

Re:

[caseih]

Surely Chromium has everything you need in it without sending your data to Google. I'm sure folk will keep ad blockers running fine on Chromium as well. I personally haven't touched Chrome itself in ages.

Vivaldi?

[bradley13]

Anyone know what Vivaldi plans to do? While it is based on Chromium, I could imagine them keeping manifest v2 alive.

Re:Vivaldi?

[TheLazyEngineer]

Vivaldi has it's own ad-blocker that they will ensure keeps working. If google removes functionality that is required by other ad-blockers, they are not promising to re-enable those.

https://vivaldi.com/blog/manif... [vivaldi.com]

Re:

[demon driver]

But "the assurance is, whatever restrictions Google adds, in the end, we’ll look into removing them."

If Chrome Kills Adblocking, Most Will Ditch Chrome

[atrimtab]

Should we place bets on if they will delay again?

The question for Google is what's more important, control of the platform that everyone views the web with OR the ability to keep users viewing ads?

Choose!

Ooooh, there is another of those Manifest is going away errors in Chrome extension....

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Block Ads in DNS at your router.

[pimpsoftcom]

Services like 1112 allow you to block malware and other issues at your router, so adding a few DNS changes to your network can do a great deal of help in blocking ads and other problems

But if that's not enough for you, I would highly recommend that you use Brave with the crypto crap shut off. because it's the only browser that I find works for ad blocking well because chrome by default includes background services you don't control.

Re:

[almitydave]

You have to stand in front of a mirror and say his name while turning around three times, then your hosts file will be automatically updated.