Installation
Upload the contents of the cookie-cat plugin to the `/wp-content/plugins/cookie-cat’ directory Activate the cookie-cat plugin through the ‘Plugins’ menu in WordPress Visit oik options > cookie cat page and perform the following steps Click on the Load XML button. A temporary XML file will be loaded for your active plugins Check the ‘Use temp XML file?’ checkbox and click on Redisplay. The cookie catalog may change. If there are “unknown” see the FAQ Click on the Save XML button to update the Latest XML file to the Latest loaded. Edit your Privacy policy page to include the [cookies] shortcode Note: cookie-cat is dependent upon the oik plugin. You can activate it but it will not work unless oik is also activated. Download oik from oik download
What is the EU cookie law?
Also known as the EU e-Privacy Directive the “UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulation” becomes effective in the UK on 26th May 2012. That’s the date when the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is due to begin enforcing the new rules.
Who does it apply to?
All websites that use cookies which may be delivered to devices being used in the UK or EU countries.
What should we do about it?
Steps to take:
- 01Each website should have a privacy policy page.
- 02Each privacy policy page should list the cookies in use.
- 03Each website should obtain consent to use cookies, as and when required, depending on cookie category
This plugin helps with step 2.
What are the cookie categories?
Here’s a simple list.
- 04Strictly necessary cookies – these cookies enable services you have specifically asked for
- 05Performance cookies – these cookies collect anonymous information on the pages visited
- 06Functionality cookies – these cookies remember choices you make to improve your experience
- 07Targeting cookies or advertising cookies – these cookies collect information about your browsing habits in order to make advertising relevant to you and your interests.
For more information see cookie-cat or read the ICC UK Cookie guide
I just get [cookies]!
You need to activate both the oik plugin and the cookie-cat plugin. And check the syntax of the shortcode.
Some of my cookies are “unknown”
The list of cookies that this plugin recognises may never be a complete list of all known cookies. If your website delivers cookies that are not recognised then the cookie category, description and duration will be shown as “unknown”. This is not really acceptable as the guidelines state that you’re supposed to explain “how they are used on the websites they visit”.
There are several ways to address this problem.
- 08Do nothing. NOT recommended.
- 09Add a caveat saying something like “the exact purpose of the cookie has not yet been ascertained. If you are concerned please contact us for more information.”
- 10Remove the unknown items from the table.
- 11Find out what the unknown cookies are; then update the output with the correct information.
- 12Stop using the plugin/theme or service that delivers the “unknown” cookie
- 13Let cookie-cat know you have an “unknown” cookie, wait for an update and retry.
- 14Raise an issue if there is a bug in the code.
How do I add a caveat?
First you need a Privacy policy page. If you have used the oik-privacy-policy plugin to help generate your Privacy policy page then you can write the caveat in the section that starts “A list of all the cookies used in this website by category is set out below”.
How do I remove the items from the table
Override the default logic to select the plugins you want processed Override the default logic to select the cookies you want listed Edit the generated HTML Programmatically, using the “cookies” filter A combination of the above
How do I update the output?
The [cookies] shortcode queries information from an XML file that contains the known information about a cookie. If you think it’s wrong then you can do one or more of the following:
- save the HTML generated by the [cookies] shortcode and edit it manually
- change the XML file
- develop a “filter” to alter the data before it’s displayed
How do I save the generated HTML
Use the “oik options > shortcode help” page, select the [cookies] entry then copy the generated “snippet” Paste this into your Privacy policy page. You may then wish to de-activate the cookie-cat plugin until you next change the installed plugins.
How do I change the XML file?
From version 1.1 the XML file can be loaded directly from the cookie-cat website. Use oik options > cookie cat and follow the instructions in the Installation section Note that using the Load XML function passes the names of currently active cookies to the cookie-cat server. By using the function you authorize cookie-cat to the information that is passed.
What is the source of the XML file’s data
It comes from the cookie-cat website.
- Use the cookie cat admin page to load an XML file tailored to your site.
- The XML file delivered with the plugin was generated from the data held in the cookie-cat website.
- This XML file is no longer being updated when a new version of the plugin is released
Can I list the browser cookies?
Yes. Use [cookies browser=Y]
What is the syntax for [cookies]?
[cookies browser=”N|Y – show browser cookies” cookies=”|cookie1,cookie2 – Optional list of cookie names.” plugins=”|plugin1,plugin2 – Optional list of plugin names. Defaults to ALL active plugins” temp=”N|Y – Use the temporary cc_mapping XML file”]
Where can I find out more?
If you are in the UK you should see the ICC UK Cookie Guide
Also have a look at the links on the cookie-cat website.
