Will Google Analytics track traffic if cookies are disabled in my browser?

Question

I want to know if Google Analytics will track traffic on my website if cookies are disabled in my browser?

I tried to search on Google, but could not find much information about this issue.

I would be grateful if you can also provide me with a link to the source.

thanks

Answer 1

No, if you disable cookies, Google Analytics will not track you.

Google Analytics tracks you by creating cookies (or using existing cookies that it finds). He then uses this cookie information in a request that he sends to http://google-analytics.com/__utm.gif . This “request” for __utm.gif is how the data is transmitted to Google Analytics.

Googling is a bit complicated, as it basically just included information about the cookies themselves, and not about what happens when they are disabled.

So, I did an experiment to prove it. I loaded StackOverflow into a new FireFox installation with cookies disabled.

The following is a list of HTTP requests. Please note that it downloads ga.js , a Google Analytics script that is trying to track you. But the __utm.gif request __utm.gif not executed. ga.js just starts, realizes that it is not possible to create cookies, and as a result there is no way to create a “state” from viewing the page to viewing the page.

Without cookies, Google Analytics will treat each hit as its own visit, and each of these visits will be a rebound. This data would be useless. As a result, GA makes the logical choice of simply not tracking these people.

Answer 2

The answer looks like YES, below is what Google has to say.

The measurement protocol can even work with cookies or js, it seems to be in beta mode, so you need to request access.

Universal Analytics supports data collection without browser cookies. Universal Analytics data collection methods ( analytics.js and Measurement Protocol ) can be used and used to collect visitor usage data without cookies. These methods also work if cookies are cleared or disabled. Website visitors who do not want their visit data submitted to Google Analytics can install the add-on for the Google Analytics browser to refuse.

Source: http://support.google.com/analytics/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2838718

Answer 3

Thanks for the explanation, but I bought cookies or did not buy. Google Analytics still records whist, but simply cannot track it. Therefore, when you say: "Google Analytics will consider each hit as its own visit, and each of these visits will be a rebound." do you mean this is still recorded, say, 0 seconds or 100% rebound? Or does Google Analytics do nothing?