No more uBlock Origin on Edge.
Archived version: https://archive.is/20260807200102/https://www.theverge.com/tech/976880/microsoft-edge-extensions-ad-blockers-mv2-mv3
Oh no. What will the 9 people who use Edge do?
Who the fuck uses edge anyhoo?
Not surprising for them to drop MV2, I expected it to happen even sooner, you would have to go out of your way to support MV2 extensions on chromium based browsers, and I do not see a reason for Microsoft to do that.
I get the impression that people want MV2 primarily for better ad/script blocking, but maybe the more secure and efficient way to go is to have built in adblocking. Firefox recently integrated adblock-rust, but you have to enable it in about:config and add filters manually, it seems very experimental and barebones at this moment compared to how it works in brave, for which it was written originally. It is probable some firefox forks expanded on this feature.
There are plenty of browsers with integrated ad blocking. All of them are the afterthought not the focus though.
Also, Google's Blink, Mozilla's Gecko and Apple's WebKit are all developed by companies that have a financial stake in advertising business. Conflict of interests might not have direct impact tomorrow, but it's not something we should blindly trust.
So strange to me that people would choose to use edge or chrome when other free browsers exist that let you do what you want.
The internet without an ad blocker is basically unusable
People actually use edge?
I’ve only used it once, and that was to download a different browsers.
I switched to it on Windows because it supported PWAs (Unlike Firefox), then when I switched to Linux I went to switch back to Firefox just to find Firefox can't import from Edge under Linux.
I can switch back soon, I reported the bug and it got fixed, and the remaining PWA I use is now being vibecoded so it's not super important anymore.
I only ever open Edge to play the surfing themed SkiFree clone it has hidden in it.
"Older" makes it sound like they've stopped being maintained. Headline should say "better"
I bet the Venn Diagram of the "Uses Edge" and "Uses AdBlocker" is really small.
I, unfortunately, must use it at work.
Same, but it allows me to use DNS over HTTPS, so if you use a service like nextdns.io or a pihole you can block ads that way.
It's always good to have options. However as I regularly see DNS blocking recommended as an alternative to content blockers, I find it important to say they're not playing in the same league. A content blocker like uBlock or AdGuard has much more capabilities to clean up pages. They can also remove annoying pop-ups, remnant elements, and anything that is not discernable by its host.
A DNS blocker can't do that, as it never even sees the content of the sites you're viewing. To me it's more of a last resort if I don't have any other options on a certain device.
Huh. I don't know what's happening in the corporate world but that kinda surprises me given chrome has way higher market share and generally the most traveled path is the easiest. And they're the same thing under the hood
I'm curious why
Since Edge adopted Chromium, there's no reason not use it from an IT perspective. It's one less program we have to deploy to new machines. Built-in apps that get the job done have an inherent advantage in an enterprise environment.
We do also support Chrome and Firefox and allow users to download them from our company portal. But the vast majority never do these days. They can't tell the difference between Edge and Chrome. As of last week, I think we only have about 50 users with Chrome installed and less than 10 with Firefox.
This is in an org with ~6000 workstations deployed.
Default for win 11. Office 365 integrated. "Paying for it anyway, might as well use it".
What does it mean for a browser to integrate with office 365?
I'm probably wrong, but office 365 should be fully digital now and opening it on PC is likely just opening a browser webpage. They built a whole thing around the edge webview, so it's all one big unhappy family you can't be rid of.
I bet this will come as a terrible blow to Edge's dozens of users
Yeah because all of them know about ad-blocking
Guess I must continue to use the "horrible" Firefox. Oh no. Anyways...
Good old Firefox. You were here before Chrome and you're still the better option.
Say what you want about it, but I have used it for like 15 years at this point. Even donated money to them on several occasions.
You donated to Chrome?
I'd never
Apologies, I've clearly misunderstood your comment.
the true horror of pronouns!
A gentle reminder that Mozilla is actively using user data for AI modeling and Firefox (the compiled browser) is no longer considered Open Source but source available.
Consider Ironfox or, my personal choice, waterfox as compatible alternatives.
Consider Ironfox or, my personal choice, waterfox as compatible alternatives.
No thanks.
I prefer to support the source they copy from. Financially, and with usage.
Consider Ironfox or, my personal choice, waterfox as compatible alternatives.
I would also mention that LibreWolf is a great alternative browser and arguably the superior one if privacy is a top priority. It has served me well.
what do you mean they are using user data for AI modeling? I couldn't find anything, besides they explicitly denying it.
What license did they change to that is not open source?
They left Firefox (the source code) to still be MPL and then changed their compiled code to a proprietary "Terms of Use" license.
The terms of use allow Mozilla to terminate this license "at any time for any reason, including if Mozilla decides not to offer Firefox anymore" which goes against a core tenant of OSS of not restricting anyone's ability to use the software.
This has been the case for like 20 years no? See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU_IceCat#History
I remember using Iceweasel and other variations back in the day because otherwise they'd be infringing on Mozilla's trademark. I don't actually see anything wrong with this. You can still create a 1-1 clone/copy of Firefox and advertise it as such with a different name. But telling others it is Firefox would not be accurate as Mozilla has no control over it and others may introduce changes that negatively reflect on their brand.
I don't support ending support for mv2. But a recent study does indicate that mv3 ad blockers are getting the job done:
https://doi.org/10.56553/popets-2026-0027
Thanks for the link! I didn't know about this study. Interesting. And not so surprising, maybe, if you followed the technical discussions that surrounded the design of MV3 at the time.
This is a sign to quit edging now.
Over the next few months, MV2 extensions will be gradually turned off by default. Users will be notified in advance and directed to recommended MV3 versions where available.
These changes will start in the Canary, Dev, and Beta channels and gradually broaden to Stable in the following months, with the goal of completing the consumer transition by the end of 2026. Managed devices will not be affected during the consumer rollout. Enterprise deprecation will follow in early 2027.
And I use neither... I so love my Firefox
Ok off topic and you have to think in Russian:
