Chrome’s Manifest V3 Shift Threatens Ad Blockers
The internet has long been a place where advertising and malicious code travel hand in hand. Soon, however, Chrome users may face a difficult tradeoff. They will need to choose between extension security and the content-filtering tools they have relied on for years.
Google Completes the Move to Manifest V3
Google is finishing Chrome’s transition to a new extension framework called Manifest V3. Support for the older Manifest V2 system has been winding down since 2025. According to developers, this support could disappear entirely in upcoming browser versions. As a result, uBlock Origin, one of the most popular ad blockers available, has already begun losing functionality in Chrome.
Why Ad Blockers Are Losing Power
The root cause lies in how extensions operate under the new framework. Manifest V2 allowed blockers to inspect and filter unwanted content before it ever loaded in the browser. Manifest V3, however, imposes far stricter limits on what extensions can do. Once Chrome fully adopts this new architecture, dynamic filtering tools will effectively stop working in their current form.
Google’s Security Justification
Google attributes these changes to security concerns and the difficulty of maintaining the older mechanism. Indeed, Chrome extensions have repeatedly served as vehicles for spreading malicious code. In March, researchers discovered that a popular extension called Save Image As Type received a malicious update after changing ownership. The update then began interfering with online retailers’ affiliate programs. The following month, analysts identified dozens of extensions containing malicious code, each one installing hidden backdoors on users’ devices.
A Solution That Falls Short
Even so, this new approach does not guarantee a complete fix. An earlier Cybernews investigation demonstrated that malicious actors can still publish harmful extensions even after Chrome fully adopts Manifest V3. At the same time, users lose access to several protective features that modern ad blockers once provided.
CISA Still Recommends Ad Blockers
Despite these limitations, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, continues to recommend ad blockers. According to the agency, these tools reduce the risk of encountering malicious advertisements, dangerous redirects, and tracking systems that monitor user behavior.
Developers Eye Alternative Browsers
Against this backdrop, some developers are already considering a switch to Brave and Firefox. Both browsers continue to support more effective content-blocking mechanisms, offering an alternative for users unwilling to give up robust ad filtering.
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