cookies :
cookies is a small text that is sent to your browser from the visited website, and this file is stored temporarily. This file helps remember information about your visit to this site, and also makes it easier to visit the site again. It also allows you to make better use of it. And in most countries, there are laws governing these files that require website owners to disclose these files and the methods used in their use and storage.
In this article, we will explain if your WordPress site uses cookies. And how you can manage it according to local laws .
What are Cookies ?
These files contain data sent by the site to be stored in the user’s browser. And cookies play an important and wide role in improving the user experience . There are also two types of WordPress.
First, session profiles: These are used to log in and are set for all registered users on the WordPress site.
Secondly, comment cookies : which are set when users post a comment on your WordPress blog .
Its goal is to store the user’s name, email address, and information about the URL so that they don’t have to re-enter it the next time they comment .
Outside of WordPress, plugins and some third-party tools may set cookies for the WordPress site .
What are the laws governing cookies ?
A cookie is a powerful tool that can be used to track and obtain a lot of information about users .
Many countries have also enacted laws that set out the most important compliance guidelines for website owners .
An example of this is the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation and the Electronic Privacy Directive. Similarly, many other countries have laws that require website owners to obtain user consent, disclose information they collect and store, and track users .
This is why cookie pop-ups appear on many different sites. Moreover, these banners require website owners to comply with the General Data Protection Act, cookie laws, and other privacy laws .
How do you know which files are stored in WordPress ?
All modern web browsers offer the service of displaying cookies that are sent and set by any website you visit. The most important of these browsers are :
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Google Chrome browser :
First you need to visit your WordPress site, after that click on the padlock or insecure icon in your browser address bar. This will open a menu where you can click on the “cookies” listed there .
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Mozilla Firefox browser
When you visit the website you want to check using Firefox, you have to click anywhere to select the “Inspect Item” tool. So this will split the browser window and then you will see the developer console panel. From here, you can switch to the “Storage” tab and then click “Cookies” to view all cookies.
Plugins that allow you to turn off linking
Now when you look at the cookies you will notice that there are some of them which are set by the WordPress plugins that you are using.
Sometimes you may not want these to comply with the laws governing linking in different countries or to limit your responsibilities. Here are some plugins that allow you to easily turn it off without breaking the plugin’s core functionality. Which :
It is the best Google Analytics software on the market. It allows you to properly install Google Analytics and set up the Compliance Extension. First you have to install and activate the MonsterInsights plugin and then once you set it up, go to the Insights » Plugins page and install the EU Compliance plugin.
There are no settings that you can configure. You can see that it is enabled by visiting the Statistics » Settings page, then switching to the Sharing tab .
The add-on will now anonymize IP addresses, disable demographics and interests reports, stop user and author tracking, and more .
This plugin is best suited for a WordPress contact form. It allows you to create GDPR compliant website templates. Also, you need to install and activate the WPForms plugin. Then you need to visit WPForms » Settings page and go to the “General” tab.
In the GDPR section, check the box next to the GDPR improvements option.
A popup will appear and you will see the option to disable cookies and user details for all forms.
WPForms also makes individual forms GDPR compatible.
An important and vital social media plugin for WordPress sites. With it you can create social media feeds that are compliant with cookie laws and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
This plugin detects if you have a profile notification plugin enabled and then can keep any other profiles .
There are also some other ways to comply with the laws in WordPress websites
It is the responsibility of the site owner to comply with the laws in all the different regions. Here are some basic steps to make your website more compatible :
1 – Add a privacy policy page: The Privacy Policy page is legally in compliance with the privacy and cookie laws in different regions.
2 – Install the Notification Cookie plugin
The cookie notification plugin shows notices on your site that it uses cookies and asks for consent from users. Also, Cookie Notice and CookieBot are two of the most popular notification plugins and are compatible with many other plugins.
3 – Keep an eye on plugins and tools that use cookies
Check your cookies to ensure that you can connect each cookie to a plugin and tool installed on your site .
Also, when installing WordPress plugins, be sure to check if they have options to make them GDPR and cookie law compliant .
We hope in this article you learned how to check cookies and ways to make your website compliant .