Reading up on uBlock Origin

Google Chrome is fully removing Manifest V2 support in upcoming releases, finally ending the last loophole that allowed ad blockers like uBlock Origin to work.

Google Chrome removed the final feature flags that allowed uBlock Origin and other Manifest V2 extensions to function, with Edge and Opera expected to follow.

News websites like the NYT have grown bloated with ads and tracking, reaching 49MB, driving users to block JavaScript or seek alternatives.

A researcher found an Instagram SQLite database with a URL blackhole table containing 4,629 flagged URLs, mostly phishing links using redirectors like t.co and storage.googleapis.com.

A maintained uBlock Origin filter list hides all YouTube Shorts, with additional filters for comments and playables, and is actively maintained by a new contributor.

A security analysis using automated scanning found 36 malicious Chrome extensions that exfiltrate browsing data, affecting over 37 million users.

Hacker News commenters discuss age verification requirements, with most advising avoidance tactics like VPNs and lying due to privacy and security concerns.

A developer details their 2026 web browsing setup using Firefox on separated work and personal devices, with curated extensions, self-hosted RSS, and bookmarks for focused reading.

The post describes a multi-layered approach to blocking all online ads using tools like uBlock Origin, DNS filters, and VPNs.