Hello Johannes,
thank you so much for your feedback and ideas on how to improve WP SlimStat! Let me address your concerns about Germany’s privacy policies.
1. this feature had already been requested a while ago; it will be implemented soon, maybe even in 2.8.1, if I can. It will mask the last part of the IP addresses recorded by WP SlimStat, which will then look like 123.213.84.0
2. I had never thought about that, but a WordPress shortcode could definitely be the solution here: you would paste something like [wp-slimstat-optout] to embed a link similar to Piwik’s. That would actually set a new cookie, which would allow WP SlimStat to remember that user’s choice. Is that how Piwik works?
3. WP SlimStat tracking cookie, like Google’s, expires in 30 minutes. WordPress’ cookie, though, has a much longer duration, so you may be worried about that 🙂
Please let me know what you think!
Camu
PS: a vote for my plugin would be a nice way to say thank you!
Thank you, questions 1 and 3 are completely answered 🙂
When you embed the iFrame that Piwik gives you, a little text with information about the Cookie is given (“You can decide here if your browser installs a tracking cookie with allows the admin to. […] Please click the following checkbox for diabling this option”). Then, under that, there is a little, checkbox (with an x in it if the user did not use opt-out yet) and behind the checkbox it says “Your visits are currently tracked by Piwik, click to opt-out” or “Your visits are currently not tracked by Piwik, click here to opt-in” if the user had already used opt-out.
And yes, as far as i know, this sets an opt-out-cookie for this user.
And another idea (not really necessary, but making the ‘legal’ usage of SlimStat easier):
Lawyers recommend that the possibiity to opt-out doesn’t only have to be offered in the privacy policy of the page, but it also has to be shown noticeable and striking when users visit the page for the first time (not on every visit), e.g by showing it under the top menu with black font on yellow background. It doesn’t need to have the checkbox there, just a little hint like “This site uses cookies to count visitors, to opt-out, click here”, linking to the privacy policy.
I think (or hope) it isn’t too complicated to create and include this, but I have to admit that I’m really not very goot at coding 😉
Of course I already voted 5/5 for SlimStat. It’s really great and you support is very helpful.
Johannes
And another idea (not really necessary, but making the ‘legal’ usage of SlimStat easier):
Lawyers recommend that the possibiity to opt-out doesn’t only have to be offered in the privacy policy of the page, but it also has to be shown noticeable and striking when users visit the page for the first time (not on every visit), e.g by showing it under the top menu with black font on yellow background.
This is something that cannot be developed at the plugin level, since there’s a gazillion different themes and configurations out there: each site owner should implement such a thing depending on his/her setup.
Thank you for your vote and… stay tuned for a new version of WP SlimStat fully compatible with Germany’s Privacy laws.
Cheers,
Camu
Oh, I didn’t think of themes with this idea…. Yes, I guess you’re right.
Thank you very much for your time.
Looking forward to the new version,
Johannes
Anonymization has been added, and will be available in WP SlimStat 2.8.1 🙂 As for the shortcode, that will come at a later time.
Best,
Camu
Would you be interested in previewing the new 2.8.1? It’s not ‘stable’ yet, but maybe you could help me test the feature you had requested, along with the other ones I’m planning to add. Also, another user is requesting a much stricter approach
http://wordpress.org/support/topic/plugin-wp-slimstat-possible-to-suppress-cookies?replies=5
Would you mind joining the conversation there to discuss what would be the best approach?
Thanks,
Camu
