La GOOG cripples ad-blocking Chrome extensions, because security—but nobody’s buying  that.

Manifest V3 Destiny

What’s the craic? Michael Kan reports: Google’s Controversial Plan to Disable Older Chrome Extensions Starts June 3

“Complaints”
Google is sticking with its plan to phase out older “Manifest V2” Chrome extensions … with the aim of “completing the transition by the beginning of next year.” The goal is to push all users to alternative and newer Chrome extensions built with the Manifest V3 framework, which the company says is more secure and private.
…
Although Manifest V3 is designed to protect users from invasive data collection, the same framework has also received complaints for its requirements, which can undermine ad blockers. [Developers] like AdBlock … note that the V3 Manifest can prevent it from filtering out ads through automatic real-time updates.

Bah, humbug. Bleeping’s Bill Toulas says it “weakens ad blockers:”

“Feedback”
The new framework introduces major technical challenges for extension developers, especially for those who need greater control over browser functions such as ad-blockers, who now have to implement complex mechanisms to remain effective. … One considerable drawback is that rulesets will no longer be updated frequently by the extension through automatic updates. Instead, rulesets are only updated when new versions of the extension are released.
…
Google says this decision was made based on the community’s progress and feedback. [It] says it listened to extension developer feedback throughout this period and made targeted improvements.

What’s Google playing at? David Li is unapologetic: Manifest V2 phase-out begins

We’ve always been clear that the goal of Manifest V3 is to protect existing functionality while improving the security, privacy, performance and trustworthiness of the extension ecosystem. [But] we understand migrations of this magnitude can be challenging.
…
For a short time after the extensions are disabled, users will still be able to turn their Manifest V2 extensions back on, but over time, this toggle will go away. … Enterprises using the ExtensionManifestV2Availability policy will be exempt from any browser changes until June 2025.

Two very different positions then? Max Norris has this neat summary:

Is this the moment when millions look for an alternative browser? xyz has a brave recommendation:

Just installed Brave and I quite like it straight out the box with no fiddling about. Opera (mini) has descended into farce, [so] is now uninstalled. Vivaldi is feeling a bit clunky now.

Of course, Firefox is a basket case, too. Or is it? Here’s lenkite:

Have you used Firefox recently? … In late 2023, there were issues. … However, now in mid-2024, everything is butter smooth. A fair number of pending issues were fixed in Firefox over the last year. Including a 25 year old bug! A lot of Firefox contributors rolled up their sleeves over the last year.

Feeling some déjà vu? xack requests you exit their grassed area:

For older internet users, we remember the dark days of Internet Explorer from 1999-2004 after Netscape got murdered until Firefox was good enough to compete: Popup ads and malware everywhere, and no tabbed browsing. Stuff like Bonzi Buddy and Gator.
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Now Google is doing everything it can to make sure Firefox can’t save the day again. It uses “accidents” all the time to discourage Firefox usage, and gets Cloudflare to “false positive” Firefox users as “bot traffic.” … If you still use Chrome in 2024, you are just as bad as being an Internet Explorer user. Of course Firefox is still not perfect either, that’s why I encourage development of true alternatives like Ladybird and Netsurf.

Alternatively, GlydeFisher suggests this:

Thanks, Google. Because of you, I’ve switched to Arc.

But ads help the web stay free (as in “beer”). Ad blockers only serve to raise paywalls. magicalhippo has a different view:

The #1 reason I run ad blockers is to defend against malware and such. There have been several documented cases where compromised ad networks have served exploits causing major issues.
…
Thus a sufficiently good ad blocker is non-negotiable for me. So far Firefox has been serving me very well as my primary browser both on desktop and mobile.

Meanwhile, Yankee Doodle Doofus is slightly more nuanced:

Ads, in and of themselves, are fine. It’s the data collection and targeting that need to go.

And Finally:

Yes—oh my God!

Hat tip: Invisible Wizard

Previously in And Finally

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