=== SureCookie - Smarter Cookie Consent solution (Beta) ===
Contributors: brainstormforce
Tags: cookie consent, gdpr, ccpa, privacy, cookie banner
Requires at least: 6.7
Tested up to: 6.9
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 0.0.1-beta.2
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html
Donate link: https://www.paypal.me/BrainstormForce
Real cookie consent for WordPress. Browser-based scanning, smart categorization, strict script blocking, and consent logs stored in your database.
== Description ==
Most cookie plugins either:
* Just show a banner
* Or make setup feel like preparing for a law exam
SureCookie exists because there should be something better.
Something accurate.
Something simple.
Something modern.
Something built properly for WordPress.
SureCookie automatically detects the cookies running on your website, categorizes them intelligently, blocks non-essential scripts before consent, and stores consent logs directly inside your WordPress database.
No traffic limits.
No SaaS visitor caps.
No complicated configuration maze.
Just clean, real enforcement.
Try the live demo of SureCookie.
== How SureCookie Actually Works ==
There are 4 things that matter when it comes to consent:
1. **Detection has to be accurate:** If you do not know what cookies are actually running on your site, everything else falls apart. SureCookie scans with a real browser, not guesswork.
2. **Enforcement has to be technical:** A banner asking for permission means nothing if scripts are already firing. SureCookie blocks non-essential scripts at the code level before consent is given.
3. **Data has to stay under your control:** Consent logs belong on your server. Not locked inside a third-party SaaS dashboard you cannot fully control.
4. **Setup has to be simple:** Compliance should not require a weekend of configuration. SureCookie gets you from install to enforcement in minutes.
Everything in SureCookie revolves around that.
== Real Browser Cookie Detection ==
This is important.
Most tools try to guess cookies by scanning HTML.
That is not accurate.
SureCookie uses a Playwright-powered scanning engine at [https://library.surecookie.com/](https://library.surecookie.com/).
When you run a scan, it loads your website in a real browser environment. Not static source code. An actual browser session.
That means it detects:
* Cookies injected dynamically
* Scripts loaded after interaction
* Conditional third-party trackers
* Tag manager injected scripts
* Things that only appear after page load
It visits your website like a real user would.
That is the difference.
Once detected, cookies are categorized intelligently and automatically.
== Smart Categorization ==
After detection, SureCookie categorizes cookies into:
* Essential
* Functional
* Analytics
* Marketing
Most cookies are categorized automatically using a continuously improving detection database.
Everything is editable.
The goal is simple:
Nobody should have to manually research every random cookie string just to get compliant.
== Script Blocking Before Consent ==
This part is critical.
Showing a banner is not compliance.
Before consent:
* Analytics does not run
* Marketing pixels do not fire
* Tag managers do not execute
* Embedded videos do not load tracking
* Social widgets are paused
Consent is enforced at execution level.
Not just visually.
== Consent Logs Stored Locally ==
All consent logs are stored inside your WordPress database in a dedicated custom table.
* View logs from the admin dashboard
* Export for compliance documentation
* Delete anytime
* Control retention periods
Compliance data stays on your server. Not in an external SaaS dashboard.
== Performance by Design ==
SureCookie is lightweight from the ground up.
* No jQuery dependency
* Minimal frontend footprint
* Dedicated database table for logs
* No heavy background processing
Blocking non-essential scripts before consent also reduces unnecessary third-party requests, which improves page load performance as a side effect.
== Designed in 2026, Not 2019 ==
Many WordPress plugins are outdated.
Too many toggles.
Too much legal jargon.
Too much friction.
SureCookie is designed to feel modern.
The onboarding is structured:
1. Scan your site
2. Review detected cookies
3. Confirm categories
4. Activate enforcement
That is it.
Setup should feel good, not overwhelming.
== No Visitor-Based Limits ==
Whether a site has 1,000 visitors or 1,000,000 visitors, SureCookie works the same way.
No caps.
No surprises.
No usage-based pricing tiers.
== Built for the WordPress Ecosystem ==
SureCookie works with:
* SureCart
* WooCommerce
* Easy Digital Downloads
* Page builders
* Analytics tools
* Marketing integrations
* Multisite setups
Consent logic applies across your site.
== Who This Is For ==
* Site owners who want real enforcement, not just a banner
* eCommerce stores handling customer data
* Agencies managing multiple client sites
* Developers who care about clean implementation
* Businesses operating in regulated regions
If the goal is just the simplest possible banner without caring about detection accuracy, SureCookie is probably not the right fit.
If the goal is modern, accurate, performance-conscious consent management, it is.
== Important Note ==
SureCookie provides the technical infrastructure for consent management. Legal compliance depends on your policies and jurisdiction. Always consult a qualified legal professional when needed.
== External Services ==
**Cookie Scanning:** SureCookie connects to [https://library.surecookie.com/](https://library.surecookie.com/) to provide real browser-based cookie scanning and smart categorization.
When you run a cookie scan, SureCookie sends the URLs of your selected pages to the scanner. A real Playwright-powered browser visits those pages, just like an actual user would, and detects every cookie, tracking script, and third-party service running on your site. Detected cookies are then automatically categorized using a continuously improving detection database.
**Consent IP Logs:** For region-aware consent, visitor IP addresses are processed through MaxMind integration to determine country-level location, so the correct Country gets into the consent log.
**PDF Export (PDFObject):** SureCookie allows administrators to download consent logs as PDF files. This feature uses the [PDFObject](https://pdfobject.com/) library, loaded from the cdnjs Cloudflare CDN: `https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pdfobject/2.1.1/pdfobject.min.js`. PDFObject is used solely to render the consent log data as a PDF in the browser. No user data is sent to the CDN — the library file itself is fetched and executed locally in the browser. PDFObject is MIT-licensed and GPL-compatible.
== Data Stored Locally ==
All consent data is stored inside your WordPress database:
* User consent choices (categories accepted or rejected)
* Timestamps of consent actions
* Masked IP address, country and user session ID
* Cookie scan results
* Plugin configuration settings
== Installation ==
1. Go to Plugins → Add New
2. Search for "SureCookie"
3. Click Install
4. Activate
5. Complete onboarding
== Frequently Asked Questions ==
= Will this slow down my website? =
No. SureCookie is designed to be lightweight. Blocking unnecessary scripts before consent can actually improve initial page load performance.
= How does the cookie scanner work? =
SureCookie uses a Playwright-powered browser engine at library.surecookie.com. It loads your site like a real visitor, detecting cookies that static HTML scanning would miss, including dynamically injected cookies, conditional trackers, and tag manager scripts.
= What data is sent to external servers? =
When running a cookie scan, page URLs are sent to library.surecookie.com for real browser-based analysis. For consent logging, visitor IP addresses are processed for geolocation via MaxMind. All data is transmitted over HTTPS. Full details are in the External Services section above.
= Can users change their consent choices? =
Yes. SureCookie provides a preferences panel that visitors can access at any time to review and modify their consent choices.
= Does this guarantee compliance? =
No plugin can guarantee compliance on its own. SureCookie enforces consent technically. Legal documentation and jurisdiction-specific requirements are the responsibility of the website owner.
= Can I export consent logs? =
Yes. Consent logs can be exported for compliance documentation purposes.
= Are there visitor limits? =
No. SureCookie works the same whether a site receives 1,000 or 1,000,000 visitors.
== Screenshots ==
1. SureCookie Dashboard: Overview of consent activity and recent logs
2. Cookie Scanner: Scan selected pages to detect cookies and services in use
3. All Cookies: Review detected cookies and organize them by category
4. Cookie Policy: Generate or link a policy page for your website
5. Banner Content: Customize the cookie banner text and actions
6. Banner Layout: Control the banner type, position, and animation
7. Consent Logs: View and manage recorded user consent choices
== Changelog ==
= 0.0.1-beta.2 - 1-May-2026 =
- New: Cookie Policy custom post type for managing policy pages within the plugin.
- New: Type-module script blocking until user grants consent.
- New: Dynamic script detection and blocking when consent is previously given or denied.
- New: Block and manage `