2mo ago

The great tracker blocker conundrum

vivaldi.com The great tracker blocker conundrum | Vivaldi Browser

In the spirit of keeping Vivaldi free for all our users, we are trying out some changes to the way our tracker blocker works. These changes relate to ways in which our tracker blocker was affecting…

Dear Vivaldi users, get ready to be fu¢ked.

In the spirit of keeping Vivaldi free for all our users, we are trying out some changes to the way our tracker blocker works. These changes relate to ways in which our tracker blocker was affecting our partnership with search engines in unexpected ways.

10 comments

Vivaldi is dead once uBlock Origin stops being supported. uBlock Origin is mandatory it today's internet, ignoring all the privacy benefits, it's a basic security tool at this point. They keep saying they have built-in ad blocking, but it's nowhere near half the functionality that uBlock Origin offers.
Signed, long time Vivaldi user.
We will keep Manifest v2 for as long as it’s still available in Chromium. We expect to drop support in June 2025, but we may maintain it longer or be forced to drop support for it sooner, depending on the precise nature of the changes to the code.
Source: https://vivaldi.com/blog/manifest-v3-update-vivaldi-is-future-proofed-with-its-built-in-functionality/
The most ironic part is that some are calling Manifest v3 as a win for security. Sure in the most basic view, it's more secure by default since it limits total access, but it ignores the simple fact why the broad access is needed in the first place. If you are trying to protect from sites that have broad access to tracking, be it malicious or abusive, you can't protect from it if your browser actively removes tools needed to protect from it. So in the end you are less secure even if you don't use any extensions in the first place.
- I've taken to Arc for my Windows desktop and keeping a close eye on Ladybird. Vivaldi has become something unwieldy anyway, it's moving away from what it once was: a simple, fast and privacy centered browser.
  Ladybird is still a ways away though and Arc doesn't have sync between desktop and mobile yet.
  
  Arc is just another venture capital project. I would stay clear at all costs, we should have learned that lesson already. One thing Vivaldi had was that it was employee owned company and seem to have decent values, instead of looking to increase CEO pay at any cost.
  Ladybird is an interesting project though maintainers transphobic views are scaring away a lot of potential contributors. Time will tell if anything comes of it.

10 comments