Firefox matches Chrome browser extension changes in the name of security Firefox
Two years after Google proposed and adopted changes to its web browser extension framework, Firefox is ready to follow suit, but with one exception.
Collectively known as Manifest v3, the changes addressed many of the security issues with the browser’s existing framework, which allowed extensions to undo the browser’s security model and grab sensitive data.
While Manifest v3 created incompatibilities between Chrome and Firefox, the latter decided to wait and watch the evolution of the framework before adopting it.
We’re looking at how our readers use VPN for a forthcoming in-depth report. We’d love to hear your thoughts in the survey below. It won’t take more than 60 seconds of your time.
“As we previously wrote, we want to maintain a high degree of compatibility to support cross-browser development. We will introduce Manifest v3 support for Firefox extensions,” Firefox developers shared in a blog post.
WebRequestAPI
Firefox developers were quick to add that while they’ll adopt Manifest v3, their implementation will diverge from Chrome’s implementation in certain areas where Firefox believes its “values point to a different solution.”
When it introduced Manifest v3 in 2019, Google claimed it was one of the biggest shifts in the extensions platform and offered extensions using it enhanced security, privacy, and performance.
However, Manifest v3 deprecated certain capabilities of the WebRequestAPI that ad-blocking extensions like uBlock Origin and Ghostery rely on to function.
In their plans to implement Manifest v3, developers of the popular open source web browser has shared that after discussions with several content blocking extension developers, they have decided to retain support for the blocking capabilities of WebRequestAPI along with Google’s replacement, called decalarativeNetRequest (DNR).
“We will support blocking webRequest until there’s a better solution which covers all use cases we consider important, since DNR as currently implemented by Chrome does not yet meet the needs of extension developers,” wrote Firefox.
Via The Register
Two years after Google proposed and adopted changes to its web browser extension framework, Firefox is ready to follow suit, but with one exception. Collectively known as Manifest v3, the changes addressed many of the security issues with the browser’s existing framework, which allowed extensions to undo the browser’s security…
Recent Posts
- Google now offers ‘web’ search — and an AI opt-out button
- Ayn’s new gaming handheld looks like a PSP, and it might just fill the hole in your heart left by Sony’s best portable
- Google Search is getting a massive upgrade – including letting you search with video
- Google Project Astra hands-on: Full of potential, but it’s going to be a while
- OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever is officially leaving
Archives
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- December 2011