Google’s Chrome Net Retailer now warns that the uBlock Origin advert blocker and different extensions may quickly be blocked as a part of the corporate’s deprecation of the Manifest V2 extension specification.
“This extension might quickly not be supported as a result of it doesn’t observe finest practices for Chrome extensions,” reads the Chrome Net Retailer web page for uBlock Origin.
The warning features a hyperlink to a Google help bulletin stating that the browser extension might be disabled to guard customers’ privateness and safety.
“To raised defend your privateness and safety, Chrome and the Chrome Net Retailer require extensions to be up to date with the brand new necessities,” it reads. Google Help Bulletin.
“With this, Chrome can disable extensions that don’t meet these necessities.”
Website: BleepingComputer
The brand new warnings had been first reported at present by X customers, who noticed a special message within the Chrome Net Retailer stating that the extension is not out there.
Nonetheless, BleepingComputer was not proven this alert on quite a few browsers and gadgets, as a substitute seeing the one shared above. It’s unclear whether or not the unique message appeared in error after which modified to the present one.
The brand new alert recommends customers swap to a special advert blocker that helps Manifest V3, akin to Hill’s. uBlock Unique Lite and different advert blockers. Many Chrome customers now say they are going to swap to different browsers if uBlock Origin is blocked.
There’s nothing unsafe about uBlock Origin and doubtless different extensions that present this alert. As an alternative, this warning is displayed as a part of Google’s present deprecation of the Manifest v2 (MV2) extension specification, which makes use of uBlock Origin.
In August, Google began warning customers straight within the browser that the extension might quickly be disabled and that they need to search for alternate options.
Supply: BleepingComputer
On the time, uBlock Origin developer and lead maintainer Raymond Hill defined that these warnings are a results of Google deprecating help for the Manifest V2 (MV2) extensions platform in favor of Manifest V3 (MV3).
“uBO is a Manifest v2 extension, therefore the warning in your Google Chrome browser. There isn’t any Manifest v3 model of uBO, due to this fact the browser will recommend various extensions as a alternative for uBO,” Hill defined in August.
“uBO Lite (uBOL) is a stripped down model of uBO with finest efforts to transform the filter lists utilized by uBO right into a Manifest v3 appropriate method, with a give attention to reliability and effectivity, as has been the case with uBO since its first launch in June of 2014.”
These Chrome Manifest variations are specs for creating Chrome extensions that describe the principles, permissions, and APIs that builders should observe and use.
In 2019, Google introduced that The V2 manifest can be out of date in favor of a Manifest V3 extension specification, which started rolling out with Chrome 88 in December 2020.
Nonetheless, the brand new Chrome Manifest V3 launched vital technical challenges for extension builders, particularly people who require better management over net browser options akin to advert blockers, forcing them to create new extensions with restricted capabilities ( akin to Hill’s uBlock Origin Lite).
Whereas uBlock Origin Lite may go nicely for some customers, those that require superior filtering or when visiting particular websites might discover they’ve a extra restricted expertise. uBlock Origin Developer created a incessantly requested query explaining the variations between the uBlock Origin Manifest V2 extension and the brand new uBlock Lite Manifest V3 model.
Even after Manifest V2 is deprecated, customers can proceed utilizing the Manifest V2 extension till June 2025 utilizing the ExtensionManifestV2Availability Coverage. This coverage permits the corporate and different customers to manage the provision of the Manifest v2 extension on Linux, Mac, Home windows, and ChromeOS.
Whereas uBlock Origin continues to work as regular in Firefox, and Courageous Browser and Vivaldi say they are going to proceed to help Chrome Manifest V2, customers can nonetheless discover Chromium-based browsers and alternate options that help the favored content material filter and advert blocker .
