uBlock Origin - Free, open-source ad content blocker.
Easy on CPU and memory.
uBlock Origin is not just an “ad blocker“, it's a wide-spectrum content blocker with CPU and memory efficiency as a primary feature.
Understanding Manifest V3 and the Future of uBlock Origin
Published: 26 September 2024With the advent of Manifest V3 (MV3), many users are concerned about the future of ad blockers like uBlock Origin. Manifest V3 is a significant update to the Chrome extension platform, introducing changes that impact how extensions interact with web content. Here's what you need to know about MV3, how it affects uBlock Origin, and what alternatives are available.
What is Manifest V3?
Manifest V3 is the latest version of the Chrome Extensions platform manifest. It introduces several changes intended to enhance security, privacy, and performance. One of the most significant changes is the modification of the webRequest API, which many content blockers use to intercept and modify network requests.
How Does MV3 Affect uBlock Origin?
uBlock Origin relies heavily on the webRequest API to block unwanted content before it loads. Under MV3, the webRequest API is limited, and extensions are encouraged to use the new declarativeNetRequest API instead. This new API allows for predefined rules but lacks some of the dynamic capabilities that uBlock Origin utilizes for advanced content blocking.
Alternatives and Solutions
- Continue Using uBlock Origin on Firefox
- Use uBlock Origin Lite
- Switch to Browsers Committed to MV2 Support
- Explore Other Content Blocking Methods
Conclusion
While Manifest V3 introduces challenges for content blockers like uBlock Origin, there are viable options for users to maintain an ad-free browsing experience. Stay informed about these changes and adjust accordingly to ensure continued protection of your privacy and enhanced browsing experience.
Open-source ad blocker
The uBlock Origin is a free and open-source, cross-platform browser extension for content filtering—primarily aimed at neutralizing privacy invasion in an efficient, user-friendly method.
CPU and memory efficiency
Globally, uBlock Origin could save consumers more than $1.8 billion/year(study). Open source ad blockers are a potentially effective technology for energy conservation.
Various browsers support
uBlock Origin’s extension is available for several of the most widely used browsers, including: Chrome, Chromium, MS Edge, Opera, Firefox and all Safari releases prior to 13.
About uBlock Origin
In 2014 uBlock Origin’s founder, original author and lead developer, Raymond Hill, created the original uBlock extension, with its development initiated by forking the codebase of HTTP Switchboard with a separate blocking extension, uMatrix, which had been previously designed for advanced users. The initial uBlock was developed by Raymond Hill in order to enable community-maintained block lists while simultaneously adding additional features and upgrading the code quality to proper release standards. First released in June 2014 as an exclusive Chrome and Opera extension, in late 2015 the initial uBlock extension expanded to other browsers under its current name – uBlock Origin. (occasionally represented globally as – uBlock₀).
Following this 2015 introduction, a collaborative comsource and Sourcepoint industry research survey reported an 833% growth rate over a 10-month period ending in August 2016, the most rapid growth among any industry software publicly listed at that time. This report attributed this enormous surge to collective user demand for “pure” blockers with the capacity to operate outside the “acceptable advertising” program used by AdBlock, and other industry extensions.
Quickly gaining traction throughout the entire ad-blocking industry, the uBlock Origin Firefox version collected over 5 million active users, with its Chrome extension subsequently compiling over 10 million active users. Developer Nik Rolls then officially released uBlock Origin for the Microsoft Edge browser in December 2016.
In January 2017, uBlock Origin was added to the repositories for Debian 9, and Ubuntu (16.04), and the uBlock Origin extension was awarded the prestigious IoT honor of “Pick of the Month” by Mozilla.
As of 2024, uBlock Origin continues to be maintained and actively developed by founder and lead developer Raymond Hill.
The uBlock Origin extension remains an industry leading, open-source, cross-platform browser extension with software developed specifically for multiple platform use, and as of 2024, uBlock Origin’s extension is available for several of the most widely used browsers, including: Chrome, Chromium, Edge, Opera, Firefox and all Safari releases prior to 13.
The uBlock Origin project still specifically refuses donations at this time, and instead advises all of its clients, users and supporters to donate to block list maintainers.