Google is planning to cripple ad-blockers on Chrome

Google is threatening users of Ad-Blockers again. They make an exception for their Enterprise users saying "blocking will still be available to enterprise deployments." For the rest of us they intend to interfere with our web browsing and render present ad-blockers useless.

If you are getting tired of Google’s threats and attempts to force unwanted ads into your web browsing, then maybe you’re ready to make a change. If you’ve been a Chrome user and just don’t want to go to too much trouble, but you are ready to make a change then go and be Brave...I mean get Brave.

What you’ll discover is a web browser that is nearly identical to Chrome and maybe even a little bit faster, and with ad-blocking already built in. With Brave there’s no need to install ad-blocking extensions at all. Even better it will import all of your Chrome’s information into Brave in seconds.

What’s all the fuss you wonder? Earlier in the year Google announced their Manifest V3 project. In this they propose changes to Chrome's extension system that would essentially stop ad-blockers from working. Users and extension developers have both protested these proposed changes in Google's plans, but so far to no avail. Chrome’s software security engineer Chris Palmer did have this to say...the new API’s are not going to break content blockers, and that the “declarativeNetRequest” limitations are under active discussion and may change.

To further explain, ad-blockers currently use Chrome's "webRequest" API to block ad-based HTTP requests from being made. Manifest V3's proposed changes, will force Chrome's ad blocker extensions to use their new, faster "declarativeNetRequest" API, and the real problem is that the new system has too many limitations, which really means that some ads will get through the ad blocker, not all but whatever surpasses the limitations of the new API.

Considering how much notice all extension developers have had, I would not be surprised if and when the new Chrome changes go into effect, that the extensions we have come to depend on will comply, and that extension developers will find a way around the "declarativeNetRequest" obstacle now confronting them.

If you value your browsing space and do not want to see ads, and like to browse with the additional extensions you’ve had in Chrome, then you have nothing to worry about because Brave offers support for nearly all of the extensions that are compatible with chromium.

So, if you are new to trying out Brave, be not afraid. This web browser is almost identical to the Chrome browser, and I’m sure you’ll love it.

How to install Extensions in Brave

1. Launch Brave and open the Menu on the top-right:

2. Select More Tools > Extensions

This will launch a new tab and from there you can add the extensions you like from the Web Store.

But can we use brave on a Chromebook? Yes,the Brave Android app works on most newer Chromebooks. But if your Chromebook is older and doesn’t support Android apps, then it will not work as of this posting. Considering that the alternatives are Edge, Firefox and Opera, I’d simply go out and get a new Chromebook and run the Brave android app.