Ad Blockers are Going Away? Surviving Manifest v3

I’m sure you’ve seen the headlines shamelessly similar to this one, saying things like “Google is killing ad blockers” or “Why Manifest V3 will ruin the internet.” It certainly seems that our favorite extensions, which a lot of us may have all taken for granted, are seemingly under fire. You might even have seen references to Google’s page About Manifest V2, or their Manifest V2 support timeline pointing to the final nail in the coffin being June 2025. The truth is, ad-blockers are not going away, and there are still available solutions, but we will still be losing a good amount of ad filtering capabilities that might make your favorite ad-block utility less effective than it used to be.

The Immediate Solution: A Different Browser

The quickest solution is to switch to a different browser. There are some popular options out there that have publicly stated they will still support Manifest V2 (MV2).

Mozilla Firefox

⁠Mozilla Firefox has announced that they have "no plans to deprecate MV2 and will continue to support MV2 extensions for the foreseeable future."

Brave

⁠Similarly, Brave has stated that they will "continue to support some privacy-relevant MV2 extensions" for as long as possible.

While these might not be the browser of choice for everyone, these browsers offer a familiar experience while ensuring your favorite ad blockers remain functional.

But what if you don’t want to go through the process of migrating to a new browser? Between bookmarks, history, and other features, Chrome is still a great (although resource heavy) option that might make the move a difficult pill to swallow.

If switching browsers doesn’t sound appealing, don’t worry! We’ve prepped a couple other solutions for you to help regain control over your browsing experience.

1. The Nuclear Approach: Using Pi-Hole

What is Pi-Hole?

Aside from the humorous name, Pi-hole acts as a DNS sinkhole. More specifically, it is software you can install on a Raspberry Pi (a tiny, and usually affordable computer), plug it into your network, do a little bit of configuration (which may seem like a lot depending on the user), and then let it block ad traffic before it even reaches your computer. It’s like having a personal ad blocker for your whole home, protecting your phone, tablet, computer, smart TV, and any other electronic device you might see ads on. (I’m looking at you, smart fridges)

The Pros

• Stopping Ads at the Source: Pi-hole is quite the security guard for your internet connection. When any device in your home tries to load an ad, Pi-hole steps in and stops it before it even reaches the device.

• Covers Every Device: Once Pi-hole is set up, you don't need to install ad blockers on each gadget. Everything connected to your Wi-Fi (or direct Ethernet) automatically benefits from fewer ads.

• Customize What Gets Blocked: You have control over the list of blocked ad domains. If you notice something you want to see is being blocked, or an annoying ad is sneaking through, you can adjust the settings to fix it.

The Cons

• Setting It Up Takes Some Work: Installing Pi-hole isn't as simple as downloading an app. It might become frustrating if you’re the kind of person that relies on your Internet Provider to set up your router for you. You'll need a Raspberry Pi and some basic tech skills to get it running.

• Might Block Too Much: Sometimes, Pi-hole can be a little too invested in your protection and block things you actually want to see. You might need to tweak the settings occasionally to make sure everything works smoothly.

• May Be More Than You Need: Because Pi-hole manages all the internet traffic in your home, it might be a bigger solution than necessary if you're just looking to block ads on your laptop or phone.

For myself, this is a bit too much. While getting it up and running wasn’t too difficult, I was finding myself constantly going into the configuration to tweak what is and isn’t blocked. It’s tedious and I find myself getting frustrated since websites can still detect this and present the “You’re using an adblocker, disable it” message. So, instead, I went with a simpler, lightweight option: removing ads after they’ve been loaded with a simple script!

2. A Flexible Solution: Tampermonkey

What is Tampermonkey?

Tampermonkey is a neat extension that’s Manifest Version 3 compatible that allows you to run scripts on either specific pages, or all pages you visit. It's a browser extension you can add to Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or other browsers, enabling you to run custom scripts on the websites. In simple terms, it lets you modify how websites look and behave, including the ability we’re focused on now, removing annoying ads after the page has loaded. Think of it as a DIY ad blocker that you can tailor to your needs without the need for extra devices or complex setups.

The Pros

• Easy to Install: Adding Tampermonkey to your browser is as straightforward as installing any other extension. There's no need for additional hardware or crazy configurations. Just a few clicks, and you're ready to go. Albeit, not as few clicks as just installing an adblocker.

• Customizable Ad Blocking: With Tampermonkey, you can use or create scripts that specifically target and remove ads from web pages. You can find pre-made scripts online (see below) or write your own if you're feeling up to the challenge. This means you have the flexibility to block exactly what you want even if it isn’t an ad.

• Lightweight Solution: Since it operates within your browser, Tampermonkey doesn't require a lot of system resources. It's a minimalistic approach that won't bog down your computer.

• Control Over Your Browsing Experience: You decide which scripts to run and when. This gives you granular control over how websites function and appear, allowing for a more personalized and pleasant browsing session.

• Runs After a Page Loads: This is the primary reason I use this over other solutions, even ad blockers that still work. As of the time of writing this blog post, web pages do not detect if the page has been altered after it’s loaded. This means I can remove ads without seeing that annoying “You’re using an ad blocker” message, and subsequently having to disable it to just an article or my favorite recipe.

The Cons

• Requires Some Technical Savvy: While installing Tampermonkey is easy, setting up and managing scripts can be a bit technical or seem daunting. It might involve copying and pasting code, or occasionally tweaking scripts to keep them working as websites or ad platforms change.

• Browser-Specific: Tampermonkey only works in the browser where it's installed. If you use multiple browsers or devices, you'll need to install it and set up your scripts on each one separately. (As a plus though, you can use it on your phone!)

• Maintenance Needed: Websites frequently update their layouts and how they deliver ads. This means you might need to update your scripts or find new ones from time to time to keep ads blocked effectively.

Personally, Tampermonkey hits that sweet spot for me. It’s a simple tool to get up and running, and I can quickly pull it up to remove an ad I find isn’t being blocked by adding it to the “blacklist” I have running for ad removals. Yes, I still need to occasionally tinker with the script, but it’s a small price to pay for a cleaner browsing experience.

So, I’ll leave you with a quick how-to for getting this up and running, and I’ll also provide my script for your benefit. Feel free to check back regularly or see our github repo here, as I’ll make sure any changes I make will be kept up to date!

Setting Up Tampermonkey to Block Ads

Step 1: Install Tampermonkey

• Chrome: Tampermonkey Extension

• Firefox: Tampermonkey Extension

• Other Browsers: Visit the Tampermonkey website for installation links.

Step 2: Create a New User Script

• Click on the Tampermonkey icon in your browser toolbar.

• Select "Create a new script..." from the dropdown menu.

Step 3: Copy and Paste our Ad-Blocking Script below

Here is our current script to remove common ad elements from web pages:

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// ==UserScript==
// @name         Dumbify’s Ad Blocker Script
// @namespace    https://github.com/Ensif-Dev/
// @version      1.0.1
// @description  Removes common ad elements from web pages.
// @author
// @license      CC BY 4.0; https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
// @homepageURL  https://dumbify.com/blog/ad-blockers-are-going-away-surviving-manifest-v3
// @supportURL   https://github.com/Ensif-Dev/Block-Ads-With-Tampermonkey/issues
// @updateURL    https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Ensif-Dev/Block-Ads-With-Tampermonkey/main/ad-block.js
// @downloadURL  https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Ensif-Dev/Block-Ads-With-Tampermonkey/main/ad-block.js
// @match        *://*/*
// @grant        none
// ==/UserScript==
(function () {
  "use strict";

  const adSelectors = [".advertisement", ".ad-container", ".sponsored-content", '[class*="advertisement"]', ".google-ad", ".dfp-ad", "#st-ad", ".bordeaux-slot", 'iframe[name*="seedtag_creative"]'];

  function removeAds() {
    adSelectors.forEach((selector) => {
      document.querySelectorAll(selector).forEach((element) => {
        element.style.display = "none";
      });
    });
  }

  // Initial removal
  removeAds();

  // Check every 5 seconds for new ads
  setInterval(removeAds, 5000);
})();

Step 4: Save the Script

• Click "File" and then "Save"

Step 5: Enjoy an Ad-Free Experience

• Visit your favorite websites to see the script in action.

• If you encounter ads that aren't being blocked, you can add their selectors to the adSelectors array in the script.

Final Thoughts

While these recent changes to Google Chrome might make ad blocking more challenging, they won’t stop users like me from seeking ways to enhance our online experience. These tools should help on that journey of taking control, and I’m sure as time goes on we will find more (and hopefully easier) ways to block the hundreds of ads we see day to day to stay on top of our productivity.

Now if only we can find a way to skip the lengthy life stories in my favorite online recipes, then we’d really be golden.