Why Do I See Unclassified Cookies in the Scan Report?

When you run a scan on your website using Cookiebot, some cookies may show up as “unclassified.” This happens because the Cookiebot scanner identifies them, but they aren’t yet included in Cookiebot’s cookie repository. Cookiebot is constantly updating its database of known cookies, but for new or less common cookies, this can take time.

These unclassified cookies may come from:

• First-party cookies: These are set by your website itself.
• Third-party cookies: These come from external services or providers you use on your site, such as advertising platforms or analytics tools.

How to Identify What Unclassified Cookies Do

Now that you know why unclassified cookies appear, the next step is understanding what they do. Here are a few ways to figure that out:

1. For first-party cookies, you can usually tell what they do by looking at the script setting them. This might be a feature like remembering user preferences or tracking page views. You can then categorize them as Necessary, Preferences, Statistics, or Marketing.

2. For third-party cookies, you’ll need to either contact the provider for more information or search online for details about the cookie.

How to Manually Classify Unclassified Cookies in Cookiebot

Cookiebot makes it easy to classify unclassified cookies manually. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Log into the Cookiebot Admin Interface.
2. In the left-hand menu, select “Cookies & Reports”.
3. On the Cookies and Trackers tab, select the domain with the unclassified cookie.
4. Scroll to the bottom of the screen, where you’ll see a list of cookies.
5. Look for cookies with the “Unclassified” category or use the search bar to find the specific cookie flagged in your scan report.
6. Click on the “>” icon next to the unclassified cookie.
7. From the drop-down menu labeled “Category”, select the appropriate classification: Necessary, Preferences, Statistics, or Marketing.

Adding a Purpose Description

Once you classify the cookies, you should also add a description of their purpose. This makes it clear to users what the cookie is doing on your site, which is especially important for transparency and compliance.

If you’re unsure about the classification or description, don’t hesitate to reach out to your web developer or the cookie provider for assistance.

Why Fixing Unclassified Cookies is Important

By properly classifying unclassified cookies, you ensure that your website is compliant with data protection regulations like GDPR. This not only helps you avoid legal issues but also builds trust with your visitors by being transparent about how you handle their data.

Watch the Tutorial for More Help

As promised, I’ve embedded a step-by-step tutorial that shows you how to classify unclassified cookies in Cookiebot. In the video, I walk you through the entire process, so you can easily fix the issue on your website.

Don’t forget to leave any questions in the comments or reach out to me for more help!

Conclusion

Fixing unclassified cookies in Cookiebot doesn’t have to be complicated. By following the steps in this guide (and watching the tutorial video), you can ensure your website remains compliant with cookie laws and that your users’ data is handled responsibly.

If you have any questions or need help with Cookiebot or cookie compliance, feel free to contact me. Let’s keep your website safe and compliant together!