{"id":6567,"date":"2021-03-18T13:30:44","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T13:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/colibriwp.com\/blog\/?p=6567"},"modified":"2023-03-24T10:52:27","modified_gmt":"2023-03-24T10:52:27","slug":"wordpress-cookies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/colibriwp.com\/blog\/wordpress-cookies\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s Everything You Need to Know About WordPress Cookies\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Don\u2019t think for a second that you\u2019re the only one who likes indulging in cookies. Your browser has a crush on them as well. Wonder why? Keep on reading to find out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start at the very beginning. What exactly are cookies and how do they work? Sit back and relax. We\u2019ve got you covered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meet the Computer Cookie<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Think about them as tiny secret agents built in your computer, who can either make your Internet navigation a lot easier or a lot messier.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From a more realistic perspective, cookies are bits of data that contain information about your behavior on the Internet and remember information such as usernames and passwords. They are responsible for tailoring and keeping track of your activity within a website, thus shaping the content according to your interests and personal preferences.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve noticed that upon accessing a website, you are required to fill out a form providing certain information such as your name and email address. Or, a small window pops up on your screen and insists that you accept all cookies the website uses.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re logged in, the same site can greet you via chat or pop up with your name on it instead of a common welcoming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, I\u2019ve recently seen my name pop up on an eCommerce website I\u2019ve revisited. The catchline was something like this: <\/span>\u201cGabriella, hurry up! Our stocks are emptying very quickly!\u201d <\/span><\/i>or <\/span>\u201cWelcome back, Gabriella!\u201d <\/span><\/i>Sounds familiar? I\u2019m sure you know what I\u2019m talking about.<\/span><\/p>\n

Another example worth mentioning comes with a remarketing strategy. But first, let’s look at a short definition of remarketing before we plunge into our example.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Remarketing, also known as “retargeting”, helps you display targeted advertisements to individuals who use your website or mobile app.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say you are looking for accommodation for your upcoming holiday on a famous travel app, like Airbnb. The next day while scrolling on Facebook, you see an advertisement pop-up on your screen, offering you a sweet and short catchphrase with a discount involved. There goes your trip to Bali!\u00a0 We\u2019ve all been there.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Nonetheless, there’s more to what that came from. Cookies help you pick up where you left off, remember your login credentials, nail down your preferences and desires, and improve your web surfing habits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, before you start thinking that you know all about cookies and their components, there\u2019s one more thing you need to know. Cookies aren\u2019t the only ones storing and gathering information through web searches. You didn\u2019t see that coming, right?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cookies and Caches are like cousins if you want. Both have the mission to improve website performance and to make it more accessible than it already is. To better understand the <\/span>differences between Cookies and Cache<\/span><\/a>, we\u2019ve put together an article that highlights just what you need to know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But for now, let\u2019s stick to our cookies and explore the different types of them. Because well…there are a few.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7 Types of Web Cookies You Should Know About<\/span><\/h2>\n

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We already know that cookies are here to provide us a custom-fit navigation and user experience. But how do we know which one is specifically designed to meet our needs? Let\u2019s jump right into it to find out!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1.<\/span>Session Cookies\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Picture this: you\u2019re doing some online shopping on an eCommerce website and for some reason, you can\u2019t add any items to your cart. Wonder why?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Usually, websites use session cookies to ensure that your information is remembered as you switch from one page to another. If your items vanish from the cart and you can\u2019t hit the checkout, it\u2019s most likely because that specific website does not have session cookies in place.<\/span><\/p>\n

On another note, as their name implies, session cookies are temporary. Meaning that when you close your browser, your computer will automatically delete them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. <\/span>First-Party Cookies<\/span><\/h3>\n

Unlike session cookies that disappear after you close your browser, first-party cookies are also known as permanent cookies. Without first-party cookies, websites would not be able to remember information such as your username and password, language choice, menu settings, and internal bookmarks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it\u2019s worth mentioning that first-party cookies disappear if you don\u2019t use the website regularly. Meaning your computer will automatically delete them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Third-Party Cookies<\/span><\/h3>\n

You would think that if first-party cookies are the good guys in the scenario, these are not any different than them. Think again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Third-party cookies come with a lot of mixed feelings and there\u2019s a reason for that. Because third-party cookies originate from a different domain than the one you might be visiting, they can only be used for one thing, tracking down your activity.<\/span><\/p>\n

These cookies can recognize your browsing habits, online behavior, demographics, spending patterns, and much more. Due to their ability to track, third-party cookies have become the favorites of advertising networks in their quest to increase up their sales and ad impressions.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Secure Cookies<\/span><\/h3>\n

This cookie does exactly what its name suggests. Secures information and stops possible frauds via cross-site coding and can only be conveyed via an HTTPS tunnel. This means that as long as the cookie\u2019s \u201cSecure\u201d indicator is active, the cookie\u2019s transmission to an unencrypted channel will not be possible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

5. HTTP-Only Cookie<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s just say these last two are like siblings. Secure cookies and HTTP-Only cookies are very similar. They both work for reducing a cookie\u2019s susceptibility to a cross-site threat. Using the HTTP-Only tag helps minimize the risk of service provider scripts trying to access a cookie, thus ensuring the cookie is secure and riskless.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Flash Cookies<\/span><\/h3>\n

This ladies and gentleman is the winner cookie of all, and we\u2019ll explain why.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A Flash cookie is applicable in cases when the end user\u2019s browser requests content that is supported by the popular browser plugin, Adobe Flash. Although it is very similar to regular cookies, it differs in terms of how much data can it hold and how can it be deleted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Generally, Flash cookies store the same amount of data as HTTP cookies, however, they also contain clear-cut information related to Flash such as indicators of when the user\u2019s advertisement stopped playing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The thing about Flash cookies is that they remain untouched even after the end-user deletes their browser\u2019s HTTP cookies. On the contrary, they can be used to recreate erased cookies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

7. Zombie Cookies\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Last but not least, Zombie cookies. The spitting image of Flash cookies, but with a twist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zombie cookies are akin to Flash cookies, meaning they can be reproduced even after they have been removed by the user. Because of this, these types of cookies are hard to spot.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zombie cookies are reconstructed using a technology called <\/span>Quantcast<\/span><\/a>, which generates Flash cookies on the internet to keep track of the user\u2019s browsing history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When a user attempts to remove the cookies after visiting a website via Quantcast, their credentials are gathered in the Abode Flash storage bin. To keep track of the user’s browsing history, the Quantcast program redeems the credentials and reapplies them. Kinda spooky if you think about it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that you\u2019ve got yourself acquainted with the cookie family, it\u2019s time we explore the bumpier side of the road: WordPress Cookies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Does WordPress Use Cookies?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Because cookies are so widely used to improve user experience and website performance, WordPress could not possibly be missing out on this.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

WordPress has two ways of managing cookies: one of them being the source code of WordPress itself, and the other one by implementing several plugins that are responsible for creating cookies and holding them following GDPR criteria.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Generally speaking, the source code for WordPress creates cookies for two main reasons: to save users’ encryption keys for future visits and to retain identifying information when users leave comments. These are called Session Cookies & Comment Cookies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, WordPress\u2019s standard cookies will help load the site faster and make it a lot easier for site visitors to log back in again.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For optimal efficiency, different types of WordPress sites might also need a set of different cookies in their sleeve. For example, an eCommerce site will always need cookies for the better conduct of shopping carts, wish lists, and customer preferences.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Delete Cookies\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Cookies can be an optional part of your internet experience. If you so choose, you can limit what cookies end up on your computer or mobile device.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you allow cookies, it will streamline your surfing. For some users, no cookies security risk is more important than a convenient internet experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most browsers give you the option to clear cookies.\u00a0<\/span>Whether it\u2019s Chrome, Firefox or Edge, just head over to their settings.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Find the cookie section \u2014 typically under Settings > Privacy<\/strong>. Click the boxes to clear or to allow cookies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Removing cookies can help you mitigate your risks of privacy breaches<\/a>. It can also reset your browser tracking and personalization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the thing with Privacy, Consent, GDPR?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The European Union enforced the General Data Protection Regulation in May 2018, new legislation aimed at protecting the security and privacy of online personal data of every European citizen.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, since websites can be accessed from anywhere in the world, GDPR has a global reach, and it impacts every WordPress website.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On the bright side, WordPress\u2019s latest release and a range of WordPress plugins now provide valuable GDPR compliance tools that help owners of the WordPress website remain on the ideal end of the spectrum of the current regulations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What this regulation does is that it requires every website host to obtain full permission from users to acquire, store, and use confidential info, such as names, internal and external addresses, health and financial data, even for activities like obtaining a teen debit card.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most straightforward ways for any site to comply with WordPress GDPR is to provide a valid opt-in, such as a checkbox. What these do is request full permission of visitors to use the website.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet cookies function differently \u2013 they reside quietly in the context of a user’s web browser, and visitors might not even be aware that they exist and what sort of data they’re gathering.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though GDPR applies predominantly to online businesses in the EU, it will also hinder website owners and developers outside the EU who monitor, collect and process any private information from any resident of the European Union.<\/span><\/p>\n

To make it simpler for WordPress sites to be using cookies and still act per GDPR, several fresh WordPress cookies plugins are accessible for the creation of cookie policy updates and consent forms, which leads me to the next topic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Make Your WordPress Site GDPR Compliant<\/span><\/h2>\n

GDPR does not only apply to the front end of your WordPress site. The code of your website must also comply with the new legislation. Being an owner of a WordPress site, you are wholly accountable for how the WordPress theme, plug-in, or third-party software collects private details through your site.<\/span><\/p>\n

Under the new legislation, while gathering any kind of data through your WordPress site, you must inform users about the following aspects:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n