How can I check which cookies are present on my website?
A cookie is a small text file which is saved to your computer, telephone, or other equipment when a visitor visits a website.
The most important feature of a cookie is to distinguish website visitors from each other. Your website visit also generates a lot of information for companies like Facebook, Google and ad networks. These companies save your online behaviour in cookies.
Most websites use cookies. And for all cookies other than necessary cookies, consent is needed before they can be placed on the visitors device.
Next to necessary cookies, we also have: preferences, statistical and marketing cookies.
How do you check which cookies are set on your website?
Chrome
The easiest browser to determine this is Google Chrome. It can present per page which cookies are used.
Open an “Incognito” browser tab in Google Chrome and enter your website address.
- In the browser URL section, click the lock icon.
- Click on cookies (you also see how many cookies are set).
- The active cookies on your page are displayed. For more information about cookies select the little triangles.
Edge
Open an “Incognito” browser tab in Edge and enter your website address.
- Pres F12 (or navigate to the dots in the upper right corner, more tools and tools for developers).
- Tools for developers is opened.
- Goto storage – cookies. Here you will find the cookies that are set on the device for this page.
For which cookies do I need consent from my website visitor?
Most websites use cookies. And for all cookies other than necessary cookies, consent is needed before they can be placed on the visitors device.
Next to necessary cookies, we also have: preferences, statistical and marketing cookies.
Example:
Do you see cookies from DoubleClick or Facebook? These are marketing cookies. Or do you see Google Analytics or Hotjar? These are statistical cookies. Cookies which “remember” language or other supporting activities are functional or the so called preference cookies.
Cookies within these 3 cookie categories may only be placed after consent has been given from your website visitor.
Unfortunately we see a lot of websites that load cookies in the background before consent has been given despite a cookie banner.
Be aware of this, as you want to respect your website visitors privacy and act according to GDPR.
If you found cookies on your website in the category preferences, statistical and marketing cookies, then consider a solution to manage cookies for you.
Why do I need a cookie scanner?
Manually identifying cookies can be time consuming and categorizing cookies in the right cookie category requires additional fact finding on cookies.
Also, 30% of the cookies on an average website change monthly.
If you want to present your cookies in a cookie declaration, you will need to identify and describe the cookie: its name, mention the provider, describe its goal and for how long the cookie is set (expiry).
An automated cookie scanner can support you in this. It will scan your website on a monthly basis (daily optional) and find, identify, categorize and describe the cookie along with its purpose and expiry term.
A GDPR compliant cookie solution makes sure that
- Cookies are only set on prior consent
- Gives website visitors the option to change or withdraw consent
- All cookies on your website are found and described and presentable in an automated cookie declaration (like on the CookieMagic website)
- Records given consent in a consent log (A GDPR requirement)
More information
Want to learn more about GDPR and the use of (marketing) cookies on your website?
Read our Marketing Cookie Guide and become an expert in working with cookies whilst respecting your website visitors privacy.
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