Serious Discussion Privacy vs. Profit: The Impact of Google’s Manifest Version 3 (MV3) Update on Ad Blocker Effectiveness (Research Article)

[Parkinsond]

Our results reveal no statistically significant reduction in ad-blocking or anti-tracking effectiveness for MV3 ad blockers compared to their MV2 counter parts, and in some cases, MV3 instances even exhibit slight improvements in blocking trackers.

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2503.01000

Spoiler: Tables and figures

 

[Zero Knowledge]

Necessity is the fire for innovation. If there is no difference then I'm happy, yet to switch to DNS/TLS blocking system wide but will as MV3 becomes normal.

 

[Parkinsond]

Necessity is the fire for innovation. If there is no difference then I'm happy, yet to switch to DNS/TLS blocking system wide but will as MV3 becomes normal.

What was eye-catching for me, the number of Adblock users surpassed that of uBO.

 

[Zero Knowledge]

What was eye-catching for me, the number of Adblock users surpassed that of uBO.

Yeah news travels quick, surprised though uBlock has not missed a beat. If Brave adblocker is defeated then I will be sad and then we have problems.

 

[oldschool]

Of course, I assume this tested only default settings and ignores µBO's advanced user mode, but I imagine even it offers no great advantages other than increased security and full user control of website behavior. MV3 will become the new normal for the majority of users, many of whom won't even bother with adblockers of any kind.

 

[Parkinsond]

Of course, this tested only default settings and ignores µBO's advanced user mode, but I imagine even it offers no great advantages other than increased security and full user control of website behavior. MV3 will become the new normal for the majority of users, many of whom won't even bother with adblockers of any kind.

I'm using uBO in Edge, but I know the day is coming to move to uBOL or to try Brave again.

 

[oldschool]

I'm using uBO in Edge, but I know the day is coming to move to uBOL or to try Brave again.

I wonder how long Edge will retain MV2? I assume they have deliberately worked around Chromium code MV3 defaults so I wonder ...

I'm pretty satisfied using NextDNS with Peter Lowe's only, Privacy Badger and UBOL on click in Ungoogled Chromium.

 

[Parkinsond]

with Peter Lowe's only

Can it take care alone of the cosmetics without easylist?

 

[Marko :)]

The problem isn't MV3 itself; it's that Google decided to block the usage of some permissions ad blockers used to block ads more efficiently, limit the number of filtering rules and ability to fetch filters from remote server.

Mozilla also said they plan to adopt MV3 some time in the future as well, and unlike Google, keep all permissions necessary for ad blocking.

 

[oldschool]

Can it take care alone of the cosmetics without easylist?

No. I use UBOL for cosmetics and for sites with intrusive ads.

 

[Parkinsond]

No. I use UBOL for cosmetics and for sites with intrusive ads.

Yes, I know; you mentioned using Peter Lowe list only in uBO combined with NextDNS.
I was wondering if this list alone is capable of handling the cosmetic task.

 

[oldschool]

I was wondering if this list alone is capable of handling the cosmetic task.

Which is why I replied "No". Maybe my post wasn't clear.

 

[Parkinsond]

Which is why I replied "No". Maybe my post wasn't clear.

No; it is clear; it's me got confused; you use Peter Lowe with NextDNS not uBO.
Apologies

 

[TairikuOkami]

Necessity is the fire for innovation. If there is no difference then I'm happy, yet to switch to DNS/TLS blocking system wide but will as MV3 becomes normal.

Majority of users are even not aware of adblocking, it comes preinstalled, and those who are, are not willing to use it, for free! When I suggested it to my colleagues, they are like: I will skip youtube AD in 5-10 secs, it is no problem. I myself do not care, ADs are blocked in paid apps and I do not mind seeing blank spaces, it is less disturbing than actual ads.

 

[oldschool]

you use Peter Lowe with NextDNS not uBO.

But FYI, I do use Peter Lowe in µBO in advanced user mode on Edge and Firefox, along with a selection of very small, specialized lists. Network and cosmetic rules = ~ 12,000

 

[lokamoka820]

For me personally, I didn't find any differences between the MV2 and MV3 extensions. uBOL, AdGuard, and Ghostery all work as expected; maybe users who use advanced modes get affected.

 

[Sampei.Nihira]

For me personally, I didn't find any differences between the MV2 and MV3 extensions. uBOL, AdGuard, and Ghostery all work as expected; maybe users who use advanced modes get affected.

I am very affected by this.
The dynamic filtering present in uBo cannot be replicated except at the level of static filters in uBoL + AG, which is less usable.

 

[Sampei.Nihira]

Spoiler: Tables and figures

View attachment 295434View attachment 295435View attachment 295436View attachment 295437

The testers were very satisfied.
In 2024, many AG/uBoL features were not present.

 

[Parkinsond]

But FYI, I do use Peter Lowe in µBO in advanced user mode on Edge and Firefox, along with a selection of very small, specialized lists. Network and cosmetic rules = ~ 12,000

I have Peter Lowe in uBO on, but not at DNS level.

 

[Parkinsond]

The testers were very satisfied.
In 2024, many AG/uBoL features were not present.

It is not a test; anyone can post a test on internet without being reviewed.
It is a research article, to be published need to be peer-reviewed.