Cookie Guard

Cookie Guard is a comprehensive GDPR compliance plugin that helps you manage cookie consent on your WordPress website. With smart script blocking, customizable banners, and detailed consent logging, Cookie Guard ensures your website meets GDPR, CCPA, and ePrivacy requirements.

Key Features

• Customizable Cookie Banner – Fully customizable text, colors, and positioning
• Smart Script Blocking – Three-tier system ensures compatibility with page builders
• Four Cookie Categories – Necessary, Functional, Analytics, and Marketing
• Sticky Cookie Icon – Users can change preferences anytime via bottom-left icon
• Consent Logging – Secure database logging with CSV export
• Page Builder Compatible – Works with Elementor, Divi, WPBakery, Beaver Builder, and more
• GDPR Compliant – Helps meet EU GDPR and ePrivacy requirements
• Shortcode Support – Display cookie settings button anywhere

How It Works

Cookie Guard uses an intelligent three-tier script blocking system:

1. Whitelist Check – Essential scripts (WordPress core, page builders, forms) are never blocked
2. Pattern Detection – Automatically detects and blocks known tracking scripts (Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, etc.)
3. Custom Scripts – Add your own patterns via the admin panel

Cookie Categories

• Strictly Necessary – Always enabled, essential for website functionality
• Functional – Optional, enables enhanced features like videos and live chat
• Performance/Analytics – Optional, helps measure and improve site performance
• Marketing/Targeting – Optional, used for advertising and remarketing

Sticky Cookie Icon

After users accept or reject cookies, a customizable cookie icon appears in the bottom-left corner. Users can click it anytime to review and change their cookie preferences.

Page Builder Compatibility

Fully tested and compatible with:

• Elementor & Elementor Pro
• Divi & Divi Builder
• WPBakery Page Builder
• Beaver Builder
• Oxygen Builder
• Bricks Builder
• Gutenberg (WordPress Block Editor)

Privacy & Data Storage

• Consent data stored securely in WordPress database
• Records: User ID (if logged in), IP address, timestamp, consent status, and preferences
• View and export logs from admin panel
• Full GDPR compliance for data handling

Additional Information

Support

For support, visit https://uxdesignexperts.com/support

Documentation

Full documentation available at https://uxdesignexperts.com/cookie-guard-docs

Author

Developed by UX Design Experts
https://uxdesignexperts.com

Cookie Guard is a tool to help with GDPR compliance. You are responsible for ensuring your website’s overall GDPR compliance, including having a proper privacy policy and terms of service.

Automatic Installation

1. Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress admin
2. Search for “Cookie Guard”
3. Click “Install Now” and then “Activate”
4. Go to Cookie Guard in your admin menu to configure settings

Manual Installation

1. Download the plugin zip file
2. Go to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin
3. Choose the zip file and click “Install Now”
4. Activate the plugin
5. Configure settings at Cookie Guard menu in admin

Configuration

1. Enable the plugin in General Settings
2. Customize banner text and colors
3. Set cookie icon colors
4. (Optional) Add custom script patterns for blocking
5. The banner will appear automatically on your site

1. 

   Cookie consent banner at bottom of page

2. 

   Cookie preferences panel with toggles for each category

3. 

   Admin settings page with customization options

4. 

   Consent logs with statistics dashboard

5. 

   Sticky cookie icon in bottom-left corner

6. 

   Color customization options

1.0.8

• Fixed: Variable naming errors
• Fixed: No SQL compatibility errors.

1.0.7

• Removed: Custom script pattern feature (security requirement for WordPress.org)
• Enhanced: Improved automatic tracking script detection
• Fixed: Contributors username in readme.txt
• Note: The plugin still automatically blocks common tracking scripts like Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, etc.

1.0.6

• Fixed: All WordPress Coding Standards compliance issues for repository submission
• Fixed: Input validation – added isset() checks for all $_POST variables
• Fixed: Cookie sanitization using proper WordPress functions
• Fixed: Preferences array sanitization in AJAX consent handler
• Fixed: All SQL queries now use $wpdb->prepare() with placeholders
• Fixed: Replaced date() with gmdate() for timezone-safe operations
• Technical: Added proper phpcs:ignore comments where necessary
• Technical: Code now passes all WordPress.org Plugin Directory checks
• Security: Improved input sanitization and validation throughout

1.0.5

• Fixed: Database table creation timing – now runs immediately on plugin load
• Fixed: Corrected hook timing issue that prevented automatic table creation
• Removed: Manual table creation button and warning notices (no longer needed)
• Enhanced: Popup Position field now only shows when Banner Style is “Popup (Box)”
• Enhanced: Improved settings form with smart field visibility
• Technical: Database check runs in constructor for reliable table creation
• Technical: Added JavaScript toggle for conditional field display

1.0.4

• Fixed: Database table now creates automatically on plugin load (fallback check)
• Fixed: Removed manual table creation button (no longer needed)
• Enhanced: CSS properly scoped to prevent theme/plugin conflicts
• Enhanced: All admin styles scoped under .cookie-guard-modern-wrapper
• Enhanced: All frontend styles scoped under .cookie-guard- prefix
• Technical: Added check_database() method that runs on plugins_loaded
• Technical: Table creation now guaranteed on activation and load

1.0.3

• Added: Popup banner style option (in addition to full-width bar)
• Added: Banner positioning options (left, center, right) for popup style
• Added: Maximum width control for banner (300-2000px)
• Fixed: Improved input field styling to match modern design
• Fixed: Enhanced color picker styling with better hover states
• Fixed: Better select dropdown styling
• Enhanced: Smoother animations for popup style banners
• Enhanced: Improved responsive design for popup banners on mobile

1.0.2

• Fixed: PHP deprecated warning for number_format() with null values
• Fixed: Database errors when table doesn’t exist on first install
• Fixed: Added table existence checks before running queries
• Enhanced: Added manual table creation button in admin
• Enhanced: Better error messaging when table is missing
• Technical: All database queries now properly handle missing tables
• Technical: All count values are cast to integers to prevent null warnings

1.0.1

• Enhanced: Modern dashboard design with glassmorphism effects
• Enhanced: Improved animations and transitions throughout the interface
• Enhanced: Better visual hierarchy and spacing
• Enhanced: Upgraded form elements with better focus states
• Enhanced: Sticky save bar for better accessibility
• Enhanced: Improved mobile responsive design
• Fixed: Added “Tested up to: 6.8” header for WordPress compatibility
• Fixed: Created /languages directory to resolve domain path warning
• Technical: Clarified database table name in code comments
• Technical: Optimized CSS for better performance

1.0.0

• Initial release
• Cookie consent banner with full customization
• Four cookie categories (Necessary, Functional, Analytics, Marketing)
• Smart three-tier script blocking system
• Page builder compatibility (Elementor, Divi, WPBakery, etc.)
• Sticky cookie icon for easy preference changes
• Consent logging with CSV export
• Admin settings panel with tabs
• Shortcode support
• Full GDPR compliance features
• RTL language support
• Accessibility features