(Guide/Review) Auto Cookie Optout responds to cookie prompts automatically in Firefox

[Karlston]

Auto Cookie Optout responds to cookie prompts automatically in Firefox

 

Auto Cookie Optout is a new open source extension for Mozilla's Firefox web browser to respond to cookie prompts on sites automatically.

 

Most sites display so-called cookie prompts, permissions to store cookies on your computer, when you load them in your browser. The prompts are annoying, especially if you visit a lot of sites regularly.

 

Automation may reduce this particular annoyance, especially if you select "no" or the option with the lowest impact on your privacy all the time. Most web browsers support disabling third-party cookies, but the majority does not come with options to deal with cookie prompts automatically.  Vivaldi is a notable exception to that.

 

Auto Cookie Optout adds similar functionality to the Firefox web browser. It works similarly to Never Consent, which I reviewed last year. It responds to cookie prompts automatically, provided that it supports the script that the site uses. The GitHub page reveals that it works with cookie consent plugins such as TrustArc, Didomi and CookieBot that are widely used, on Google and Yahoo properties.

 

Consent to save cookies on the device is denied if the script is known. Prompts are displayed just like before if a site uses an unsupported script to display the prompt.

 

Good content blockers such as uBlock Origin may get rid of cookie popups as well. The developer notes that using content blockers may introduces issues, such as sites staying in a partially loaded state or remnants of the cookie popup remaining visible on the screen. The extension communications to the sites that you want to opt-out, and that may result in a better experience.

 

The overall experience may be better, as everything is automated once you have installed the extension. Just visit the Auto Cookie Optout page on Mozilla Addons and click on the install button to install the extension in Firefox. Only an older version of the extension is available on the project's GitHub page. The source appears up to date, but the releases page lists an older version only.

 

The extension needs permission to run on all sites, but that is clear since it will deal with the supported scripts on all sites that run them.

 

Users with uBlock Origins need to install this filter list, which deals with a conflict. The extension has no preferences or options at this point in time.

 

You may check the console of Firefox's Developer Tools, as automatic cookie opt-outs are echoed there.

 

Closing Words

If you are particularly annoyed by cookie consent prompts and popups, and you have not found a solution yet, you may find Auto Cookie Optout useful.

 

Landing Page: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/auto-cookie-optout/

 

 

Auto Cookie Optout responds to cookie prompts automatically in Firefox

[vissha]

@KarlstonI read this article just after it was posted on gHacks. However, Martin didn't say anything about google / yt consent annoyances. Wondering would this remove youtube / google consent page blocks?

[Karlston]

2 hours ago, vissha said:

Wondering would this remove youtube / google consent page blocks?

 

Sorry, no idea. Maybe though, the developer's Homepage has this...

 

Quote

 

Which sites do you support?

Non-exhaustive list of supported websites:

• Websites with cookie consent plugins from common vendors like TrustArc, Didomi and CookieBot
• Various Google properties including web search, Google Maps and YouTube (including some regional variations)
• Yahoo and affiliated websites like TechCrunch