Cookieless Privacy-Focused Google Analytics
Cookieless Privacy-Focused Google Analytics adds the GA tracking script to your site while configuring it in such a way that no cookies or other data are stored in the end user’s browser. With this plugin, it should not be necessary to ask for user consent in order to be compliant with GDPR and other EU legislation.
Being able to use Google Analytics without having to display a cookie consent dialog was the primary motivation behind the plugin.
IP address anonymization via anonymizeIp is enabled by the plugin, too, of course.
How It Works
Google Analytics requires a client ID, a unique string that identifies the user’s browser and persists between page hits. Without this plugin, the client ID is generated by the Google Analytics script when a site is first visited and stored in a cookie.
This plugin basically does two things:
- Disable all Google Analytics cookies by setting
storagetonone - Generate an alternative client ID on the fly whenever a page is loaded
Client ID Generation
While Google Analytics works even without a client ID, many of its features require an ID that does not change between page hits or visits. This plugin generates the client ID on the fly in JavaScript while a page is loaded.
The generated client ID does not contain any personally identifiable information. This is achieved by:
- Hashing the components that make up the client ID.
- Switching to a new ID every few days (configurable).
The following components are used to build the client ID (the string that is then hashed):
- Client IP address as seen by the webserver
- Domain of the website where the plugin is installed
- Browser user agent
- Browser language
- Validity period (a number that changes every n days to force a new client ID and prevent long-term tracking)
Usage
Install the plugin and add your Google Analytics tracking code (UA-xxxxxx-y). That’s it.
Configurable Settings
- Google Analytics tracking code
- Validity period of the client ID in days (default: 4)
- Enable the analytics script for WordPress admins (users that have the capability
manage_options)? (default: no)
Download & install the zip archive
The plugin package installer can be downloaded from the WP2E project tab called “code”.
1 – Select the version to download if this option is available otherwise the “latest” version of the main plugin will be used.
2 – After downloading the zip archive install the plugin package installer in you local environment and activate the script from the plugin list.
3 – Under the section “Plugins” of the admin dashboard you should see a new “Dependencies & Licenses” link. Follow the instructions from this panel to finalize the installation of the missing dependencies.
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- Give a name to your project
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- Download the Installer Package
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- Install & activate the plugin locally
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- Install the suggested dependencies
Tips: Use the WP2E panel to add/suggest new dependencies to the local installation. Press F5 in the list of dependencies if the changes are not displayed right away.