Chrome phases out popular ad blocker — what now?

It’s the Digital Security Training team at Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), with security news that keeps you, your sources, and your devices safe. If someone has shared this newsletter with you, please subscribe here .

In the news

In its push to rework permissions within Google Chrome desktop app browser extensions, the search company no longer supports a variety of popular browser extensions, including uBlock Origin . The ad blocker, downloaded tens of millions of times , is being automatically turned off for some Chrome users. Read more here .

What you can do

Because advertisements are sometimes used to deliver malware , we often encourage journalists to use browser extensions that can help protect your privacy and security, including uBlock Origin.?

• Easy mode: The developers behind uBlock Origin now support a compliant new version for Chrome called uBlock Origin Lite. If you use another browser, you can also use vanilla uBlock Origin. Download either one here . You can always disable it for websites you trust and want to support. (Or better yet, subscribe and give them some money.)
• Don’t stop there: While you’re at it, you can also block many tracking tools on the web using the Privacy Badger extension. Pull that down here .
• Go for it: If you use private browsing mode, you can also enable these extensions in private browsing mode by going to the three-dot menu at the top right corner of the browser, then clicking “Extensions” > “Manage extensions” > “Details” > “Allow in Incognito.” Note that private browsing mode only removes a bit of information locally on your device (e.g., cookies and private browsing history), and websites can still otherwise track you just fine. If you’re curious to learn more, read all about what private browsing mode does and doesn’t do .

Updates from our team

• Join my team! We’re hiring an early-career digital security trainer to help facilitate trainings, write educational material, and maybe even write this very newsletter from time to time. Whether or not you fulfill everything in the job description, I would love to hear from you with any questions you might have. Check out the job post .

Our team is always ready to assist journalists with digital security concerns. Reach out here , and stay safe and secure out there.

Best,

Martin

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Martin S.

Deputy Director of Digital Security

Freedom of the Press Foundation