Firefox and Chrome are squaring off over ad-blocker extensions

There is a growing split over the amount of room browsers should leave for ad blocking.

The feature known as Web Request is important for any system that wants to block off a wholesale domain. Web Request has been cut out of the most recent extension standard due to security concerns. In a recent post, Mozilla made it clear that they will keep the door open for the most advanced forms of ad blocking.

Privacy advocates have criticized the search company for its strategy, but it hasn't changed. It could be a chance for Mozilla's product to really define itself. It will have a huge impact on the role of ad blocking on the modern web if they stick withMV3

Understanding Manifest V3

The specification for Chrome's browser extension manifest file, which defines the permission, capabilities, and system resources that any extension can use, is going to be changed.

Browser extensions can use the Web Request feature to observe traffic between the browser and website and to modify or block requests to certain websites. An extension script that blocks the browser from sending traffic to "evil.com" can be found in an example provided for developers.

It is possible to use the Web Request feature for both good and bad purposes. The feature in ad-blocking extensions blocks incoming and outgoing traffic between certain domains and a user's browser. They block websites that will load ads and stop information from being sent from the browser to any one of the thousands of tracking websites that collect data on internet users. The same feature can be used to hijack users' login credentials or insert extra ads into web pages, which is why they changed how it works.

The Declarative Net Request is the new version of the blocking version of the Web RequestAPI. When a rule is triggered, the extension can perform a more narrow set of actions, instead of monitoring all data in a request. Adblock Plus, one of the most popular ad blockers, has come out in favor of theMV3 changes, though it's worth noting that the extension has a financial relationship with GOOGLE. It is possible that others will be more severely impacted.

Critics say that the changes are a calculated attempt to limit the impact of ad blocking on a company that is almost entirely funded by ads. New and existing technologies that block ads online are a risk factor that may affect revenue.

The change will undermine the effectiveness of their products. In light of the company's recent statements on protecting privacy, Jean-Paul Schmetz, CEO of the privacy-focused browser extension Ghostery, took particular aim at the requirement of theMV3 standard.

While Google is pushing a privacy by design message on the surface, it's still asserting a monopoly over the entireecosystem by stifling digital privacy companies that are already working to give users back control of their data

The Ghostery extension is an example of a product that would be affected by the changes made by the internet giant. The extension looks for data that could unintentionally identify a unique site visitor and replace it with generic data before the network traffic leaves the browser. The developers say that doing this requires the ability to modify web traffic on the fly and that the restrictions onMV3 will make this very difficult.

The impact of those changes will go beyond the browser. The basis of not only Chrome but also Microsoft Edge, the privacy-focused Brave, lightweight browser Opera, and many others is part of the Chromium project, an open-sourced web browser created by Google that forms the basis of not only Chrome but also Microsoft Edge, the privacy focused Brave, Since Chromium underpins these projects, browsers that depend on it will have to migrate to theMV3 extension format, and extensions for those browsers will no longer be able to do ad blocking using Web Request

Mozilla pushes back

Google exerts a lot of power over what browser extensions can and can't do. Because they have a chance to take a different approach to extension design and are now in a position to distinguish themselves with a more permissive approach to ad blocking, browsers that aren't based on Chromium are different.

Most of the Manifest V3 spec will be used in Firefox so that extensions can be used in both browsers. After Google phases it out, the most sophisticated anti- tracking ad blockers will be able to work as usual.

In justifying that decision, Mozilla has made it clear that privacy is a core value for people who use its products.

It is important for users of the browser to have access to the best privacy tools. We allow ads to load in the browser even though we block tracking. It is important for users to be able to block ads completely.

Since other non-blocking features of Web Request had been kept, it didn't seem to make much of a difference in the security benefits of the changes.

Google seems to be sticking to its guns. According to Scott Westover, the company supports blocking and only intended to limit the types of data certain extensions could collect.

Westover said that they were happy to see Mozilla supporting Manifest V3. ad blockers will continue to be supported by chrome In order to improve the security and privacy of our extensions platform, we are changing how network request blocking works.

Westover pointed out that the makers of Adblock Plus had praise for the changes that were made.

It is possible that the stance of Firefox on ad blocking will encourage more users to switch to the browser, which makes up less than 8 percent of the desktop browser market. Users of any Chromium-based browser will be able to see changes in function once the support for Manifest V2 ends. Even if you have to look for it in a specialized blog, Mozilla will be making the case for privacy until that day.