Automatic Scans

Cookient automatically scans your domains weekly to detect new cookies and scripts, keeping your consent configuration up to date.

Overview

Cookient automatically scans all your domains once per week to find new cookies and scripts. This ensures your consent banner stays accurate without manual intervention.

Key Benefits

  • Always up to date – Detects new cookies from third-party scripts automatically
  • Zero effort – No manual scanning needed after initial setup
  • Email alerts – Get notified when new cookies or scripts are found
  • GDPR compliance – Stay compliant as your website evolves
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Included in All Plans
Automatic scanning is included with all Cookient plans. Free plans scan every two weeks, while all paid plans scan weekly.

How It Works

Automatic scans use the same technology as manual scans, running in the background without affecting your website's performance.

  1. 1

    Scheduled Check

    The system checks domains that haven't been scanned recently and prioritizes them based on last scan time.

  2. 2

    Headless Browser Scan

    A headless browser visits your site and performs both pre-consent and post-consent scans, just like a real visitor.

  3. 3

    Detection & Categorization

    Cookies, localStorage items, and third-party scripts are identified and automatically categorized using our database.

  4. 4

    Comparison

    Results are compared against previous scans to identify what's new or changed.

  5. 5

    Notification

    If new items are found, you receive an email with a summary and link to review the results.

Scan Schedule

The scan frequency depends on your subscription plan. Domains are scanned at distributed intervals to ensure even system load.

PlanScan FrequencyBest For
FreeEvery 2 weeksSmall sites, testing the service
StarterWeeklyLow-traffic sites with infrequent changes
ProWeeklyActive sites with regular updates
BusinessWeeklyHigh-traffic sites with strict compliance needs

Scan Distribution

  • Domains are prioritized by longest time since last scan
  • Scans are spread evenly throughout the day/week
  • Your website performance is not affected – scans run on our servers

Email Notifications

You receive an email notification only when new cookies or scripts are discovered. If nothing new is found, no email is sent.

Email Contents

  • Summary – Number of new cookies and scripts found
  • New cookies – Name, domain, and assigned category for each
  • New scripts – URL and assigned category for each
  • Warning flag – Highlighted if items are uncategorized
  • Dashboard link – Direct link to review the scan results
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Uncategorized Items
If new cookies or scripts are detected but can't be automatically categorized, they'll be flagged in your notification. Review these items and assign categories manually to ensure proper consent handling.

Reviewing Results

After receiving a notification, review the scan results in your dashboard to ensure all cookies and scripts are properly categorized.

  1. Log in to your Cookient dashboard
  2. Navigate to Cookie Management
  3. Select the domain from the dropdown
  4. View the Scan History – automatic scans are marked with an "Auto" badge
  5. Click on a scan to see detailed results
  6. Review the Cookies and Scripts tabs

Identifying New Items

New cookies and scripts that weren't present in previous scans will be highlighted. Pay special attention to items marked as "Uncategorized" – these need manual review to ensure they're handled correctly by your consent banner.

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Action Required
Uncategorized cookies may be blocked or allowed incorrectly. Always review and categorize new findings to maintain GDPR compliance.

Settings

Automatic scanning is enabled by default for all domains. You can disable it for specific domains if needed.

Disabling Automatic Scans

  1. Go to Domains in your dashboard
  2. Click on the domain you want to configure
  3. Navigate to Settings
  4. Toggle off Automatic Scanning

When to Disable

You might want to disable automatic scanning for:

  • Staging or development domains
  • Domains with authentication-only content
  • Sites you no longer actively maintain