Some Google Chrome ad blockers could stop working next year
API changes meant to increase user privacy may have an unwelcome side-effect
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The developer of aGoogle Chromead blocker extension has conceded that there isn’t “much point” to their latest release, as several key features have had to be removed.
Raymond Hill, the brains behind the popular uBlock Origin Chrome extension, made the comment in hiscommit of the new versionon GitHub, in reference toGoogle’s upcoming shift to its Manifest v3 (MV3) API.
Hill cited the move to withhold “broad read/modify data permissions” from Chrome developers under MV3 as the “limiting factor” in the development of the new version of the extension, recommending that users continue to use the MV2 extension if they want to benefit from uBlock Origin’s current range of features.
Google Chrome’s new API changes
Under development since 2018, Google’s new MV3 API is said to protect users’ security and privacy, as well as offering a material performance boost.
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The removal of key read and modify data permissions relied on by most Chromium-based privacy and ad blocking tools may seem like a positive step in this direction, but Chrome users may findprivacy toolsharder to find and to use in the future.They may instead look toVPN servicesand thebest VPN routersto be safe online, or simply anotherweb browser.
Since January, Google has already prohibited the creation of new MV2 extensions, but by January 2023, developers will be unable to update extensions on the old API, and they will cease to run entirely on consumer browsers.
From then on, Google Chrome ad blocking extension users may come across more informational pop-ups on websites asking them to accept cookies before being allowed to continue browsing, and be redirected away from websites without asking more often.
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As a result, it’s uncertain whether there’ll be much of a future for the Chrome versions of ad blockers and privacy tools in the new year.
ViaThe Register
Luke Hughes holds the role of Staff Writer at TechRadar Pro, producing news, features and deals content across topics ranging from computing to cloud services, cybersecurity, data privacy and business software.
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