Microsoft is beginning the retirement of Manifest V2 (MV2) extensions in Edge this month, with consumer completion targeted for the end of 2026 and managed-enterprise deprecation in early 2027.

Microsoft says that change is justified because 95% of the most-used MV2 extensions in the Edge Add-ons store have already moved to Manifest V3 (MV3). It counted 58 MV2 extensions with “meaningful usage,” only three of which lack a publicly available MV3 alternative.

Starting this month, some Edge users will see warnings in edge://extensions and on Edge Add-ons store pages. Over the following months, MV2 extensions will be disabled by default.

This shift mostly affects privacy tools that modify requests, headers, redirects, or responses. MV2 extensions will need to be redesigned or lose particular features. Extensions relying on persistent background activity must also adapt to MV3’s service worker lifecycle model.

The change affects some well-known privacy and content-blocking extensions. Among them is the classic version of uBlock Origin, one of the most popular ad blockers for Edge, with more than 13 million installs.

The change is intended to improve security and performance. MV3 replaces some long-running background code and broad request-interception behavior with more constrained, declarative mechanisms. But those constraints also remove capabilities that sophisticated privacy, content-blocking, and request-modifying extensions relied on.

Several developers have complained about the challenges of adapting to MV3. One of the main issues is the limit on the number of rules a browser extension can include.

The rules must fit within browser-defined ceilings. Chrome documents a guaranteed minimum of 30,000 static rules, a maximum of 100 declared static rulesets with 50 enabled at once, 5,000 session rules, and limits on regular-expression rules.

This does in no way mean that Microsoft is banning ad blockers. They simply need to find different ways to remain effective.

Building Browser Guard for Manifest V3

At Malwarebytes, we’ve already gone through the process of adapting our free Browser Guard extension to MV3 and came out better than we went in.

So, while Manifest V3 introduced meaningful improvements to browser security, it also created real challenges for security tools like Browser Guard.

Rather than scaling back, the Browser Guard team rebuilt its approach from the ground up, focusing on behavior, patterns, and faster response times. The result is protection that’s different under the hood, but just as committed to keeping you safe online.

You can download Browser Guard for Edge from the Edge Add-ons store.

Stop threats before they can do any harm.

Malwarebytes Browser Guard blocks phishing pages and malicious sites automatically. Free, one click to install. Add it to your browser →

Microsoft has removed 119 extensions from the Edge add-on store which were all tied to one adware campaign.

In a paper titled “Inside StegoAd: How We Disrupted a Massive Malicious Extension Campaign,” Microsoft researchers detail how they uncovered and dismantled a sophisticated malware campaign that abused browser extensions to infect users. According to Microsoft, the campaign involved 119 malicious browser extensions which were downloaded by 2.6 million users.

The extensions all promised, and delivered, some kind of basic functionality: ad blockers, VPNs, translators, video downloaders, calculators, coupon extensions and so on. But after a while they turned out to be “sleepers” and secretly started downloading additional malware.

Among the payload was malware involved in ad fraud, but also extensions that ran arbitrary JavaScript pushed from the server, which stole Google credentials and second-factor codes at sign-in, harvested WordPress admin logins, and exfiltrated cookies in bulk for session hijacking.

The name of the campaign “StegoAd” is derived from the words advertising and steganography, which means techniques of hiding secrets in something that doesn’t immediately cause suspicion. In this case, hiding code in images.

And not only did the cybercriminals try to stay under the radar by waiting for some time, and hiding malicious code inside images, they also left some victims alone. Some of the extensions only went rogue in about 10% of installs, which would actually execute the next stage of the malware, while the other ~90% would be left alone (at least for that execution attempt). And, in some cases, they re-used names of well-known legitimate extensions to install an additional level of trust.

Browser extensions are a source of wealth for cybercriminals because it compares to installing a small program that lives inside your browser, which can see and report about everything you do on the internet.

Now I hear some of you thinking: I don’t use Edge. Or I’ve used it just once, to download and install my favorite browser. But although Microsoft discovered and analyzed the campaign, the techniques used in this campaign are applicable to Chromium-based browsers in general.

This campaign was less about exploiting a browser vulnerability and more about tricking users into installing a trusted-looking extension, then using sophisticated concealment techniques to avoid detection long enough to compromise systems.

How to stay safe

Always be careful when downloading extensions, even from the reputable app stores. As we’ve seen many times before, criminals manage to get their apps or extensions listed when they are only one update away from turning into malware. So, make sure that you trust the developer and don’t rely on reviews alone.

Use an up-to-date real-time security solution to detect and remove malicious extensions from your device and block connections to malicious domains and IP addresses. Remove the known malicious extensions from your browser. Below is an alphabetical list of the malicious extensions the researchers found by name.

Please note that there might be more than one extension that has the same name. In case you doubt whether the extension you have installed is among them, check whether the ID matches the one shown in the list. If you prefer looking them up by ID, you can find them organized differently in the Microsoft report (pages 40-43).

Extension Name	Extension ID
#Best# PDF Saver	jebcdimkcimkafekgbgbhookdajcoeib
“Download” Button for YouTube	jbmkcmhocoddcokjkahpcchanlmiffhg
“Save” Button for Pinterest	fhkijdlfjnpimenfpnegkecbbijmoipm
…Page Screenshot Clipper	maiackahflfnegibhinjhpbgeoldeklb
7TV	nmhdjlflloeeahacgomilnhmpfnhlpkn
Adblock	aooacabidfijofopjaeligonlfobjcjb
Adblock	dckihkcdmjmlkndgmmgplpcnkmdpangb
Adblock (µBlock clone)	kmiahfbflcnmlobepelpgkmolhodmiek
Adblock For Edge	kikacehfccglblphddbifmiaeiglfdfi
Adblock Master	dgmpkflgbcbpjgniahjegbpelmofbgnn
Adblock Master	hninibdhkeepfndhcdknlijeapngbgdp
Adblock Master for Youtube	jnakfjmfmjmfpmdnghedafdphdanbjkh
Adblock for Youtube	afakckepbbffmnoghgpfnnebijeahjcb
Adblock for Youtube	gclhifbbggfamoojmienffegbmmfnfll
Adblock for Youtube	nipggfgilmoiofmnkbeabghbcaohmjih
Adblocker FX	fkkoeecbjckjpnmenebojblcljjgbpoj
Adblocker Plus for YouTube	imiheoejheaebigkjaeilfmekiikjdbd
AdFly Skipper for Edge	nhfohdhgahjpmniccbgflilignkcnmai
AdSkip-爱奇艺	mimmainmmkddahakleojidjaimaofndp
Ads Block Ultimate	fbobegkkdmmcnmoplkgdmfhdlkjfelnb
AI Search GPT for Edge	beemogkfhphmjghmkghdaggidgohohee
AI Search with ChatGPT	jgngkchljnldpnjimaboboomjmpfpoie
AI Weather Forecast	iaehhmhmdidpkfmddiodkloefndpggcj
AliExpress Helper	elecjoakfjcmjoppfconlfgfemjcaoea
Auto Skip Ads on YouTube	dcelinkcepeidliddjhapgjokheoldjb
Axure RP Viewer	aekfeebhjlmielppjlhebapokdkelion
Batch Image Downloader	hnleilhpfbdofpdnnpjggafhncienakg
Batch Image Downloader	ibfjnghdeenopfkpbmnkablkfejnlnif
Best Speedtest Tool	eklcgjodcnhhcghpbhehhbnmjncbopcg
Best YouTube Adblocker	cjjcndlebdepeddfopnhpifmbfecocfh
Color Enhancer	bmmchpeggdipgcobjbkcjiifgjdaodng
Color by Number	aljmdjbcbkanlhnmcdjbefaomgbekhno
ColorZilla	mdjeohcdegpfoppocljbccpognjlkjke
Convert Everything	ielbkcjohpgmjhoiadncabphkglejgih
Cool Cursor	ajbkmeegjnmaggkhmibgckapjkohajim
CrxMouse – Super Drag	pohfogacehhgefhgmcmnojflfakllkal
CrxMouse Gestures	imcbcfmohachfahkbgijokokjpfmoogb
Custom New Tab for Edge	dbhgpbaaedlknnnochmkjfacnfnakkfa
Downloader for Instagram	higdalghhdbfffdjdiaenminajlmmldb
Download All Images	hnggnhinapdcjocbciajaffnofecfale
Edge Web Highlighter	ijgobfhjjipoljjcejmafocdnfnloflm
Efficient Adblocker for Youtube	oejbpnadmkdiofacgknaaagbmmonhgpb
Enhance YouTube	jecnjeedhbokmpckobjbgieglfjcomek
Evernote in Pinned Tab	elljfaejhdaplocgcejlhfemgimbmcdp
Focus To-Do: Pomodoro Timer & To Do List	nlapjaaepfeadiecaipnacimidfjginj
Free Online Video Downloader	bpdanoaacmebjgfjdmekfcfgmnaoekim
G.B.B.D Translator	fdjpommjpahieenehallhicdhponhacm
GIPHY for Edge	gggjlnkbmgmjboipaegjmjmehmcekamo
Gmail Checker	nhjdhmbdahdidccpobobccagmmijndmp
Google Hangouts	adnahjjfjjemdiefpobclponnhkijnmo
Google search link fix	mjofmhcbolkekhebpccldlbdamnfjefc
Google Translate in Right Click	fcoongackakfdmiincikmjgkedcgjkdp
Hiddence VPN	akfklmfpgmkkhiiolnfbhalkeccjnmeb
HLS Stream Downloader	fgbfcndckldbjifhjgijpjmnpekkelkb
IG Downloader for Edge	ncbpkjcnklnbnkjpcamhhoedlkljeolo
Image Downloader – Batch Download	ngeoikidkjbegoifbnmfimacmbilfcgi
Image Downloader Pro	gnbnbmnldhfoplgjojhepikgjanaplle
Imageye	ikfdcmchafnmklcndfegdlefcfoaggni
ImTranslator	bbofakpgfmlfjpjcahodgpbddocpibge
iQiyi Adblock	hlkenllnegiplhjhpobgangolfkjcgab
iVideo Downloader	amfboegfahhedgehddflgcfbdaapllfj
iYouTubeToMP4	bemebcpaekkmffjjbdakpipemmmlgchb
Language Reactor	hffpfdhdjpbnaddaidajedimmpckekkl
Live Start Page	egbkgelnkodaldbpkgjmhcekjakkcpnk
Magic Actions for YouTube	pjhoiegecdlpaohfffpajaldpbilngog
Marinara: Pomodoro® Assistant	mebgpfbaibhepnkljpimlijicgkbangk
Mouse Tooltip Translator	ibjjllhemkfgfbkgohldepcdgiigpdkb
Natural Reader Text to Speech	eopjamlpanhfkcbnoeofcnmdfdiogfgl
New Tab – Customized Dashboard	edohfgmjmdnibeihfcajfclmhapjkooa
Night Mode	engcfdjknekakgpjkhdobneidcpfbfgm
Night Mode	pgcamkdibinodcpkhenjmofbfobpebpn
One Key Translate	jihipmfmicjjpbpmoceapfjmigmemfam
Picture-in-Picture Playing	kemjiblbeciejjlgobbkffbpnceieefh
Piggy – Automatic Coupons	gmaoimcaoimgmomockloieoifjocpkmf
Pinterest Save Button	kakgeonhimhojdncehlopejkfaapboeo
Return YouTube Dislike	cgoigjefilgfmcjnnendlpdaonlfoncf
RSS Feed	gmciomcaholgmklbfangdjkneihfkddd
Save as PDF	mlgefgipndlgdfjfgnjfheigkagjieea
Save Pinterest on Right Click	glgbgppjjkldoifgpbhbpbkbcdjpgpfj
Screen Shader | Dark Mode	olcibgopfmndlnghnmogcgdhdffdbicg
Similar Sites – Discover Related Websites	fifeankddgioinbcchlokclbcgjlopjj
Similar Sites for Edge	fhhinoefbjlmhakpjohnpabdobgmphli
Simple mass downloader	dbhdfkiddhdhmcikjdgblfjbenjfjlfh
Social Book Post Manager	inelenlaldjofeekhjinpjkacjokagke
SpeakIt!	badiigfpcpfckbhmpmkhokagppaadkim
Speed Control for Youtube	eindenipbnkpeofhpjjimphfchmjoohe
Spell & Grammar Check Tool	fljmegmgjebjdionedkjfgffikhnmcgg
ssYoutube – Video Downloader	okmfpehbgckbneedidbladdaiekikcdo
Summary with ChatGPT	dokiamnhbobapjfhhhcjlfplabeofamp
Super Dark Mode for Edge	lkmeakjjodlkhbikbpdoeicfodaklkna
TikMate	jhahljcmjemimhchigiaigklabnpodgo
TikTok APP for Edge	celdediiemogjpfcjocdbildilkccepl
TikTok Downloader Without Watermark	flcgalphjnojjefjnnimnejbkkefbjgo
To QRcode	cgjomicbgmoadggnjbdiafpjlodmafkp
Transkriptor	lplondnihmdhjokafldkcfnjclkhigpm
Translate Officer	jjdfciihihcpgfgmoonfpgglbgclpfai
Translate Selected Text with Google	obocpangfamkffjllmcfnieeoacoheda
Translate Selected Text with Right Click	fmchencccolmmgjmaahfhpglemdcjfll
Trusted VPN for Edge – Free VeePN	klmfgbnlbfgpdenpdddpdfigmnkmchil
Turbo Download Manager	bpjnmlookdfciblphehedlcbpmignahe
Twitch Custom Emotes – FrankerFaceZ	johcbgkljdbebbloakcollpmigpigkpd
U-Tube Downloader	nphphgkcccnlmdiihcedabnhfacfmojk
Undo Closed Tabs	amemnenomfejhfmfiheekmbcigfkolel
Unblock Youku	ajnjfpjimckjhfcpkaldennpdjglmeml
UseChatGPT.AI	hcmfdagipflbaagmcnhnhabkmjkopcke
Video & MP3 Downloader	oiolhdeinoaidggfcpebifcbedppbgog
Video Downloader Premium	jgphopeamnghlcekffldkpnbhmiadnbc
VPN	pdnjhppcgkdbjolbeplcabkcfmpnbjmh
Weather Forecast	hecicojipmfmablnbhknedademofbbpk
Webpage Screenshot for Edge	eblienbdkbgiigaebhmljbedkafiobkj
YouTube Transcript to Text	nfincgjfplibcdcncfkeehldffppnlnp
YouTube Adblock Plus	flmkfmdmcaepdaoedepihfkhmgopiago
Youtube Adblock Online	hmjdegfgppjddmmojloflajkelegnjdp
Youtube Download	dhnibdhcanplpdkcljgmfhbipehkgdkk
Youtube To MP4 Downloader	cfilkckedhoniijcpjfgihelgepflpni
ZLibrary Searcher	ffedaeoanbhgmanhhecfjodpopcjnhkc
一键翻译	nepdfkaidpemglngbgpnmmhnleiekpin
鼠标手势 (Mouse Gestures)	cbopgngpbfeoecnbebghbbhmdadmllce

We don’t just report on threats—we remove them

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