Anatomy of Google analytics cookies

#1

Post by wasigh » Thu, Apr 14, 2011, 4:13 PM UTC

Anatomy of Google analytics cookies
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Re: Anatomy of Google analytics cookies

#2

Post by toddh » Thu, Apr 14, 2011, 5:25 PM UTC

Nice, I always wondered how they worked.

Re: Anatomy of Google analytics cookies

#3

Post by dude_abides » Thu, Apr 14, 2011, 5:33 PM UTC

Just wondering: Why doesn't a webserver encrypt the cookie value with a server-side key? This way, the information in the cookie (timestamps, pageviews, number of sessions etc.) can be safe from wireshark sniffers.

Re: Anatomy of Google analytics cookies

#4

Post by calloc » Thu, Apr 14, 2011, 5:54 PM UTC

dude_abides wrote: post #3

Just wondering: Why doesn't a webserver encrypt the cookie value with a server-side key? This way, the information in the cookie (timestamps, pageviews, number of sessions etc.) can be safe from wireshark sniffers.

That would have to be done on Google's end, that is not something webmasters using Google Analytics are able to do by themselves.

Re: Anatomy of Google analytics cookies

#5

Post by CWIZO » Thu, Apr 14, 2011, 7:16 PM UTC

Since Google is so keen on improving the speed of the internet (and good for them for that) I'm looking forward to the day when they'll only use one cookie for all their tracking (if that's even possible). GA is, by Google's standards, a speed hog right now, and Page speed always complains about it ...

Re: Anatomy of Google analytics cookies

#6

Post by dude_abides » Fri, Apr 15, 2011, 1:12 AM UTC

calloc wrote: post #4

dude_abides wrote: post #3

Just wondering: Why doesn't a webserver encrypt the cookie value with a server-side key? This way, the information in the cookie (timestamps, pageviews, number of sessions etc.) can be safe from wireshark sniffers.

That would have to be done on Google's end, that is not something webmasters using Google Analytics are able to do by themselves.

Yep. I'm wondering why Google, in this case, wouldn't encrypt the value stored in its cookie. Is there any technical reason other than laziness?

Re: Anatomy of Google analytics cookies

#7

Post by calloc » Fri, Apr 15, 2011, 1:37 AM UTC

dude_abides wrote: post #6

calloc wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would have to be done on Google's end, that is not something webmasters using Google Analytics are able to do by themselves.

Yep. I'm wondering why Google, in this case, wouldn't encrypt the value stored in its cookie. Is there any technical reason other than laziness?

I believe the cookies are set and manipulated by JavaScript, as such I'm not even sure it would be a good idea...