Constantly asked to approve cookies and/or log in

[Hugh Robjohns]

...Also (as this subject recently came up on another forum I frequent) I believe that not being able to chose which cookies are included contravenes EU law...

Not quite, no.

Some sites do offer that selectivity, but it's not mandatory and often not practical. Most sites offering user choice limit the options to 'All' or 'Essential Only'. The cookies used on the SOS site are 'Essential Only' anyway (but see below).

The UK equivalent to the EU law is detailed in the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, but they both essentially require the same things.

1. Detailing what cookies are set on using the site, and what they are used for. The page I linked previously does all that, and is accessible from the cyan Cookie strap.

2. Tell site visitors how the website uses cookies. The blue bar does that in brief, with more information on the linked page.

3. Obtain visitors consent, and give them some control. The blue bar does that, with the control options being to consent or not...

Specifically, the wording on the Cyan Cookie bar explains that the SOS site uses cookies and gives two user options. The obvious one is, Okay, I Agree, and the alternative is to click on the underlined section in the text that says, No, Give Me More Info...

That takes you to the linked page:

https://www.soundonsound.com/informatio ... e-security

In the opening paragraphs of that page, it states: Under EU law we are obliged to disclose to all site users information about the use of cookies used on our web site.

It goes on to explain each of the cookies, what they are used for, and how to disable/remove them individually, if desired. It also explains that doing so significantly impairs the workings of the site and thus degrades the user experience.

[Paul Gilby]

Thanks Hugh for explaining the cookie options.

I work with the Dev team so can provide more detail.
The following relates to the screen shot below.

Blue Cookie Bar
When the EU law required all sites to inform users about their cookie choices, we introduced the bottom blue bar. This provides the options which Hugh summarised above. This is totally EU compliant.

If you set your browser to clear all your cookies / history when you quit the browser, the blue bar will come back next time you visit our site. It should not reappear for any other reason so if you are experiencing this I suggest you look carefully at your privacy settings.

Centre Popup
This was introduced by Google and is displayed in addition to the bottom blue bar cookie control system. Google's popup covers cookies but also gives you control over whether you allow them to gather data for analytics and advertising purposes.

Again, if you clear your cookies and history this popup will appear again.

Work In Progress
The Dev team are currently assessing a number of new cookie control popups which embrace the newly introduced IAB Transparency & Consent Framework. This is a new standard which builds on GDPR and must be adopted by all sites. So, in the near future, the blue bar and Google popup will go and be replaced by our chosen IAB compliant solution.

I've simplified this reply as it's a complex subject but you can read more about it here if you're interested.
https://iabeurope.eu/transparency-consent-framework/

[BigRedX]

Thanks for the clarification about cookies.

However after not visiting the site since Friday evening, when clicked the bookmark I have for the forums I found that not only did I have the blue cookie message, but not the centre screen one (I can't recall ever having seen that), but I was also logged out.

I've tried clearing all the SOS cookies and that hasn't worked. Any more ideas?

[BigRedX]

Cookies message again just now, but at least I wasn't also logged out this time.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Have you checked your browser settings (or tried a different browser)? It sounds like some of the cookies are being removed after each session.

[Forum Admin]

BigRedX - do you use any Ad Blocker plug-in with your browser(s)?

If so which, and what version/make of browser do you use please. An ad blocker would explain why you do not see the Google popup as that is related to the (few) Google-hosted ads we run on our site.

Do you use Private Browsing sessions for the Forum by any chance?

I have my browsers set to erase all Cookies and Empty Caches every time I close the browser session, as I am always in "test mode" when browsing our own site, and this results in me needing to Agree to Cookies every new visit and of course erasing Cookies will remove the Login cookie that remembers you to our site.

[BigRedX]

As I said earlier in the thread I'm on Safari 13.1.2 which is the most up to date version of Safari that this Mac supports. I am running an ad blocker - AdBlock Plus and again this is the most up to date version that this browser supports.

Even if the ad blocker is responsible for not seeing the centre screen dialogue box it shouldn't be responsible for the constant cookies message. I got it again just now even though I have already been browsing the SOS site earlier today, and I haven't quit my browser between sessions - in fact I don't think I've even closed the browser window just visited a couple of other sites in between.

I don't use private browsing at all. Occasionally I use a VPN which is required for one of my clients, but that shouldn't be a problem (should it?) and I disconnect before viewing any "normal" websites.

SOS is the only website I visit on a regular (normally daily) basis that is constantly making me approve cookies and logging me out for no apparent reason. I'm permanently logged into other sites that require it, and those that do log me out have prominently displayed message in their log-in screens telling me of the maximum log-in duration - usually 7 or 14 days.

HTH

[Forum Admin]

Thanks for the extra info BigRedX - we're on deadline but will gather our heads on Friday to see if we can replicate this behaviour and report back as soon as feasible.

Ian G

[Hugh Robjohns]

Hmmmm.... it's all very odd, and definitely not 'normal' SOS site behaviour. I hope Ian and the team can figure it out for you.

[ef37a]

FYI if it helps, I am using Firefox with W10* and the only other forums I infest are homerecording.com and thefretboard.co.uk

The latter asks me to login several time a week but HR never does or I cannot remember the last time it did so.

*When I use my HP W7 laptop I always have to login to sos but that involves just clicking a box, I don't have to enter a password or anything else. Just as well since I have long since forgotten my password!

Dave.

[BigRedX]

And having been able to browse the SOS forums this morning and even post, this afternoon cookies message is back...

[BigRedX]

Well after a cookies problem caused by another web site, I decided to bite the bullet and clear ALL the cookies from my browser. As a result after logging back in to the SOS forums and OK'ing the cookies message I got almost 3 weeks of uninterrupted browsing until the beginning of this week after having not been on the forum for 2 days I was unexpectedly logged out, and then I have had to approve cookies twice in the last 2 days. Any ideas?

[Forum Admin]

Sorry -- We have no clue as to why you are experiencing this, as we cannot replicate it ourselves in tests and we don't have hundreds of fellow members suffering the same, which makes troubleshooting profoundly difficult.

However, as part of future site upgrades, the DevTeam are working on implementing a new, different Cookie Control mechanism for the site to satiate Google's demands, but there's no fixed deadline yet for its release on the live server.

[BigRedX]

Thanks for the update.

However I suspect that it may be down to the age of the browser I use, as I have noticed a couple of other sites I visit regularly, but not daily, now display a cookies message every time I use them. There are also a couple that won't work at all on this browser.

The alternative would be that the cookies from another site are conflicting with those on this site, but that would be nearly impossible to test. All I can say is deleting everything got me about 3 weeks of uninterrupted browsing without being logged out or having to approve cookies. Now I am back to having to approve cookies every other day and being logged out if I don't use the site at least every other day.

[Forum Admin]

However I suspect that it may be down to the age of the browser I use, as I have noticed a couple of other sites I visit regularly, but not daily, now display a cookies message every time I use them. There are also a couple that won't work at all on this browser.

Google (and the EU) tend to be the main drivers of change and conformity when it comes to Cookie law/policy globally. Undoubtedly an old browser will not be compatible with modern best practices and simply will not be able to comply, I guess.

The alternative would be that the cookies from another site are conflicting with those on this site, but that would be nearly impossible to test.

Exactly. Hence the dilemma in troubleshooting a solution that works for you..

All I can say is deleting everything got me about 3 weeks of uninterrupted browsing without being logged out or having to approve cookies. Now I am back to having to approve cookies every other day and being logged out if I don't use the site at least every other day.

Solution is simple, innit? Come visit the site every day at least twice a day and you will never have Cookie problems ever again.

[Paul Gilby]

Further to this discussion.
We have now completed work on a new cookie control system which uses a module called Civic. This replaces the current system and will bring us in line with the latest requirements for GDPR, CCPA and IAB (advertising) consent.

This will go live on Thursday 16th Nov around 9am UK time.

Please be aware this will trigger a new cookie popup and you'll need to accept the cookies before logging into your account to continue using the forum.

[Martin Walker]

Thanks for the heads-up Paul

[Wonks]

As this is Sound on Sound, can’t we call them HobNobs instead of cookies?

[zenguitar]

As this is Sound on Sound, can’t we call them HobNobs instead of cookies?

Good point, well made

Andy

[BigRedX]

Just got this new cookies message on the left of the screen. I've made my choices. It will be interesting to see if it pops up again and if so how frequently. This week under the old system I've had to approve cookies every day. This is despite not quitting my browser or even turning the computer off since Monday morning.

[BigRedX]

Unfortunately the new cookies system hasn't solved my problem. I've just now been asked to confirm my cookies selection, about 30 hours after the last time and again without having quit the browser or turning off the computer in between. I suspect I'll have to put up with this until I can afford to upgrade my Mac sometime next year.