Automatically Block Cookie Popups with Consent-O-Matic

Tired of the endless cycle of cookie consent pop-ups? Do you feel like you spend more time clicking “Accept All” than actually browsing the web? You’re not alone! The ubiquitous cookie banners, designed to comply with GDPR, have become a major online annoyance. But what if you could reclaim your time and privacy? Enter Consent-O-Matic, a brilliant, free tool that automates cookie consent, letting you browse the web without the constant interruptions.

Consent-O-Matic is a browser extension designed to automatically manage cookie consent pop-ups, saving you time and frustration.

What is Consent-O-Matic? Your Solution to Cookie Fatigue

Consent-O-Matic is a browser extension, available for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, that automatically handles those annoying cookie consent banners. Developed by researchers at the Centre for Advanced Visualization and Interaction (CAVI) at Aarhus University in Denmark, this open-source tool identifies and interacts with cookie consent forms, applying your pre-set privacy preferences. This means you can browse the web without being constantly interrupted to manage your cookie settings.

Why You Need Consent-O-Matic:

The modern internet is filled with cookie consent banners. Consider this: the average internet user visits numerous websites daily. Each visit often requires managing a cookie consent form. Multiply that by the number of sites and the time spent on each banner, and you quickly realize you’re wasting valuable minutes every day. And if you regularly clear your cookies for privacy (a good practice!), you have to repeat this process each time. Sadly, a staggering 82% of people eventually click “Accept All” out of sheer exhaustion, giving up on their privacy.

Consent-O-Matic eliminates this problem. By automating the process, it:

• Saves Time: Reclaim the minutes lost each day to cookie banners.
• Reduces Mental Load: Browse without constant interruptions and decisions.
• Enhances Privacy: Enforce your privacy preferences consistently.

How Consent-O-Matic Works:

Consent-O-Matic recognizes over 150 different types of consent management providers (CMPs) like OneTrust, Quantcast, Cookiebot, and TrustArc – the systems you frequently encounter. It works seamlessly by:

1. Detecting the CMP: Identifying the cookie consent system used by the website.
2. Simulating Clicks: Automatically clicking the necessary buttons to apply your preferences.
3. Applying Your Preferences: Respecting your pre-configured privacy settings.

Easy Installation and Setup:

Getting started with Consent-O-Matic is a breeze:

1. Install the Extension:
   • Chrome: Visit the Chrome Web Store (also works on Edge and other Chromium-based browsers).
   • Firefox: Install from Firefox Add-ons.
   • Safari: Find it in the App Store (macOS, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS).
2. Customize Your Preferences (Recommended): After installation, the extension defaults to privacy-focused settings. To adjust them, click the Consent-O-Matic icon in your browser’s extension bar, then select “More add-on settings.”
3. Configure Your Cookie Preferences: Within the settings, you can precisely define your preferences for each cookie category:
   • Information storage and access
   • Preferences and functionality
   • Performance and analytics
   • Content selection, delivery, and reporting
   • Ad selection, delivery, and reporting
   • Other purposes
4. Forget About It: Once set up, Consent-O-Matic runs automatically.

The Benefits: Time, Sanity, and Consistent Privacy

Consent-O-Matic provides substantial benefits:

• Significant Time Savings: Development tests indicate users can save 5-10 minutes daily, which adds up to over 30 hours annually!
• Reduced Mental Fatigue: Avoid the frustration of managing cookie banners.
• Consistent Privacy: Ensure your choices are consistently applied, preventing accidental acceptance of unwanted cookies.

Unlike simple cookie blockers that can sometimes disrupt website functionality, Consent-O-Matic interacts properly with CMPs, ensuring your privacy choices are honored.

Community and Customization:

If you encounter a website where Consent-O-Matic doesn’t automatically manage the cookie banner, you can easily report it via the “Let us know” option in the extension menu. The team will then analyze the CMP and add support in a future update, thanks to the open-source, community-driven nature of the project.

For those technically inclined, the source code is available on GitHub. You can even contribute by creating and submitting custom rules for new CMPs (if you’re comfortable with JSON).

Conclusion:

Consent-O-Matic is an excellent tool for reclaiming your time and regaining control of your online privacy. While the ideal solution may be a shift in how websites handle cookie consent at a higher level, Consent-O-Matic offers a practical and effective solution to today’s cookie consent chaos. Install Consent-O-Matic today and start enjoying a smoother, more private browsing experience.