Publication result detail

Developers’ Insight on Manifest v3 Privacy and Security Webextensions

POLČÁK, L.; MAONE, G.; MCMAHON, M.; BEDNÁŘ, M.

Original Title

Developers’ Insight on Manifest v3 Privacy and Security Webextensions

English Title

Developers’ Insight on Manifest v3 Privacy and Security Webextensions

Type

Paper in proceedings (conference paper)

Original Abstract

Webextensions can improve web browser privacy, security, and user experience. The APIs offered by the browser to webextensions affect possible functionality. Currently, Chrome transitions to a modified set of APIs called Manifest v3. This paper studies the challenges and opportunities of Manifest v3 with an indepth structured qualitative research. Even though some projects observed positive effects, a majority express concerns over limited benefits to users, removal of crucial APIs, or the need to find workarounds. Our findings indicate that the transition affects different types of webextensions differently; some can migrate without losing functionality, while others remove functionality or decline to update. The respondents identified several critical missing APIs, including reliable APIs to inject content scripts, APIs for storing confidential content, and others.

English abstract

Webextensions can improve web browser privacy, security, and user experience. The APIs offered by the browser to webextensions affect possible functionality. Currently, Chrome transitions to a modified set of APIs called Manifest v3. This paper studies the challenges and opportunities of Manifest v3 with an indepth structured qualitative research. Even though some projects observed positive effects, a majority express concerns over limited benefits to users, removal of crucial APIs, or the need to find workarounds. Our findings indicate that the transition affects different types of webextensions differently; some can migrate without losing functionality, while others remove functionality or decline to update. The respondents identified several critical missing APIs, including reliable APIs to inject content scripts, APIs for storing confidential content, and others.

Keywords

Webextensions, Manifest v3, privacy, security, web browsers, survey among developers

Key words in English

Webextensions, Manifest v3, privacy, security, web browsers, survey among developers

Authors

POLČÁK, L.; MAONE, G.; MCMAHON, M.; BEDNÁŘ, M.

Released

21.10.2025

Publisher

SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda.

Location

Marbella - Spain

ISBN

978-989-758-772-6

Book

Privacy Enhanced Technologies Symposium 2025

Pages from

15

Pages to

26

Pages count

12

URL

https://www.insticc.org/node/TechnicalProgram/webist/2025/presentationDetails/136690

BibTex

@inproceedings{BUT193343,
  author="Libor {Polčák} and Giorgio {Maone} and Michael {McMahon} and Martin {Bednář}",
  title="Developers’ Insight on Manifest v3 Privacy and Security Webextensions",
  booktitle="Privacy Enhanced Technologies Symposium 2025",
  year="2025",
  pages="15--26",
  publisher="SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda.",
  address="Marbella - Spain",
  doi="10.5220/0000205700003985",
  isbn="978-989-758-772-6",
  url="https://www.insticc.org/node/TechnicalProgram/webist/2025/presentationDetails/136690"
}

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