What Are Tracking Cookies – A Beginner’s Guide for 2025

Ever wondered why some ads follow you on the internet? Well, it is because of the role of tracking cookies.

Over time, websites place tracking cookies on users’ browsers to track users’ preferences.

But as a user, you should know how these cookies can impact your online privacy and also how they can affect your online experience.

Companies and advertisers use cookies to analyze user behavior and make their website motives better.

So, in this article, we will discuss what tracking cookies are, whether they are dangerous, and how they can impact privacy regulation worldwide.

What Are Tracking Cookies?

Cookies are little text or data files stored on users’ browsers. Cookies come in two categories; first and third part cookies. 

It collects information on the user’s interests, preferences, location, and browsing history. The website uses tracking cookies in order to use direct marketing and connect with the intended audience. 

With this data, the targeted ads are sent to the users in which they have shown their interest.

For instance, when you search for men’s shoes in your browser, a tracking cookie will begin to record your preferences in the background. Now, other platforms will receive your cookie data and display advertisements based on your browser search query. 

What Are Third-Party Tracking Cookies?

Unlike first-party cookies, which are placed on the website by the administrator in response to user activity, third-party cookies are placed on websites by external services such as Google Adsense or Facebook.

Almost all of the tracking cookies can be categorized as third-party tracking cookies. Websites use such cookies to advertise and enhance the user experience. 

What Information Do Tracking Cookies Collect?

Using tracking cookies, a product can be advertised to users with similar interests or search engine queries. They primarily keep track of users’ surfing behaviors and habits.

They get access to data like your IP address, location, the websites you visit, the pages you browse on the specific website, and most importantly, the products you click on and the things you buy.

The advertiser uses the collected information to target the desired audience and give you a customized online purchasing experience.

Are Tracking Cookies Dangerous?

In the previous section, we discussed the type of information that tracking cookies collect. While cookies can be concerning, not all are dangerous, and tracking cookies is one of them. 

Tracking cookies are entirely safe to use if used keeping the laws in mind. Although these cookies are frequently used to enhance user experience and provide targeted advertising, their misuse can raise concerns.

To make people feel more secure about their privacy, many internet browsers have settings that let you control or say no to cookies.

In addition, according to GDPR, CCPA, and other global laws, websites that use cookies must obtain user consent before deploying cookies. It depends on the user to provide consent or to reject the cookies.

Does Your Website Use Tracking Cookies?

Now, at this point, we know whether tracking cookies are dangerous or safe to use, but do you know if your websites use tracking cookies?

As a website owner, knowing every cookie your website sets is crucial, especially if it comes from external sources. It is important to inform users which third-party cookies are used.

You can use the cookie scanner feature by WP Cookie Consent to obtain a report containing all the cookies and the categories of cookies specified on your website.

Over a period of time, privacy issues have been raised by multiple users for the usage of cookies without consent. Laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the US and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union have been formed to protect users’ privacy.

How GDPR Regulates Tracking Cookies

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law protects people’s personal information and privacy inside the European Union (EU) territory. It limits how websites and online services handle user data, including cookie trackers.

Severe violations, such as not getting users’ consent for placing or tracking personal information or ignoring the individual’s rights, result in heavy fines.

In case of violations, the maximum fine is €20 million or 4% of the overall turnover for the previous or current fiscal year, whichever is higher. These fines are a punishment that makes companies take data security seriously.

Additionally, organizations that violate guidelines harm their reputation and cause a loss of trust among users.

How CCPA Regulates Tracking Cookies

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) safeguards the personal information of Californian citizens.

Although the CCPA does not mention any clause about tracking cookies like GDPR, it only requires businesses to inform users about the personal information collected and its purpose, including data gathered through these cookies.

Additionally, you must offer users various options to opt out of the collection of their personal information for specific purposes.

You must include a link that says “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” if you use targeting cookies.

Why You Need To Obtain Consent For Tracking Cookies

Websites must be open and honest to gain users’ consent before deploying cookies by clearly informing them about how cookies are used. Here are a few suggestions on why you need to obtain consent for tracking cookies:

• To clearly inform the users about the use of tracking cookies.
• To comply with laws and regulations like GDPR & CCPA. Website owners must obtain consent before placing cookies on the website.
• Provides users the option to choose which cookie they want to accept and reject.
• Users get access to modify the cookie preference anytime. 
• When users are informed about tracking cookies, getting their explicit consent builds trust between users and the website owners.
• It helps to educate users about the types of cookies used on the website, their purpose, and their potential impact on their online experience.

Now, the question may arise in your mind: which cookie consent plugin can help us obtain the user’s consent?

WP Cookie Consent plugin is a powerful solution that helps websites create free cookie consent banners to inform visitors about the cookies used and allows them to accept or reject the use of cookies. This plugin is the best example of a cookie consent manager, which helps to manage the cookies.

How Do You Block Tracking Cookies On Your Browser?

To block tracking cookies on your browser, you can adjust the browser settings. But if you run a WordPress website, you can use a cookie consent plugin to enhance your control of cookies. WP Cookie Consent is one such plugin that offers an incredible feature called “Script blocker.”

The script blocker helps block specific scripts or cookies from running on your website until you obtain user consent. This feature helps to comply with popular laws such as GDPR, CCPA, and other regulations worldwide.

To block third-party cookies on your website, read the GDPR Settings -Script Blocker documentation.

FAQ

Conclusion

Now that we understand the concept behind tracking cookies, we know how crucial it is to respect the digital privacy of both website owners and end users. 

The goal of tracking cookies is to improve the user experience. However, the privacy of the users has always been the top priority. To address these concerns, website owners must give control over their data to users.

We recommend using the WP Cookie Consent plugin. Known for its user-friendly interface, ease of use, and features, including a Script blocker, Cookie scan, and Geo-targeting, this plugin will help you to keep track of cookies.

By adhering to reliable cookie management techniques with the help of the WP Cookie Consent plugin, website owners can create a more transparent and user-friendly online environment while ensuring compliance with privacy regulations.

If you’ve liked reading this article, don’t forget to check our other similar articles:

• Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Third-Party Cookies
• How WP Cookie Consent Helps Your WordPress Site Adhere to CCPA Regulations
• A Step-by-Step Guide to Create A Cookie Consent Banner Design

Grab the WP Cookie Consent plugin to make your website comply with all the global laws.