TLDR: Free Chrome extension that detects Meta Pixel, Google tags, TikTok, LinkedIn, and 20+ tracking pixels on any site. Shows pre-consent violations in real-time, checks Consent Mode v2, and identifies which CMP is installed—like Meta Pixel Helper, but for privacy compliance.
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A free browser extension for Chrome that provides real-time detection of tracking pixels and cookies on any website. Features include pre-consent violation detection, Google Consent Mode v2 verification, CMP identification, and comprehensive cookie analysis with GDPR compliance scoring—essential for auditing competitor sites, verifying your own implementations, and understanding third-party tracking.
Summary by Claude AI
The Audit That Changed Everything
Illustrative scenario: a composite example, not a specific reported case.
A privacy consultant was evaluating a potential client's website. The client claimed GDPR compliance—they had a cookie banner, after all. The consultant installed a pixel scanner extension, browsed to the homepage, and saw the truth:
- Meta Pixel: Firing before consent
- Google Analytics: Active immediately
- TikTok Pixel: No consent gating
- LinkedIn Insight: Tracking page views
- 4 more advertising pixels: All pre-consent
The "compliant" banner was cosmetic. Seven different advertising networks were tracking every visitor from the first pageload. The consultant turned a 2-hour audit into a €45,000 remediation contract.
The right tools reveal what website owners don't want you to see—or don't know themselves.
Why You Need a Pixel Scanner
Browser extensions see what happens in real-time. Unlike remote scanners, they:
- Detect dynamic script loading
- Monitor events as they fire
- Show consent state changes
- Reveal delayed tracking initialization
If a tracking pixel tries to hide, an extension catches it.
What the Extension Detects
Tracking Pixels (20+)
| Platform | Detection Signals |
|---|---|
| Meta Pixel | fbq(), fbevents.js, _fbp cookie |
| Google Ads | gtag(), googleads.g.doubleclick.net |
| Google Analytics | GA4, UA, gtm.js |
| TikTok Pixel | ttq.track(), analytics.tiktok.com |
| LinkedIn Insight | li_fat_id, snap.licdn.com |
| Twitter Pixel | twq(), ads-twitter.com |
| Pinterest Tag | pintrk(), ct.pinterest.com |
| Snapchat Pixel | snaptr(), tr.snapchat.com |
| Criteo | criteo.com, cto_bundle |
| Microsoft UET | uetq, bat.bing.com |
| And more... | Hotjar, Mixpanel, Amplitude, etc. |
Pre-Consent Violations
The extension monitors network activity from page load:
- Records timestamp when page starts loading
- Watches for consent banner interaction
- Flags any tracking before explicit consent
- Shows violation severity (pixel type, data sent)
Google Consent Mode v2
Verifies all four required signals:
ad_storage: Advertising cookiesanalytics_storage: Analytics cookiesad_user_data: User data for ads (new in v2)ad_personalization: Personalized advertising (new in v2)
Shows default state, update events, and whether signals propagate correctly.
CMP Detection
Identifies which consent management platform a site uses:
- Cookiebot
- OneTrust
- GetCookies
- Usercentrics
- Iubenda
- TrustArc
- No CMP detected
Useful for competitive research and understanding industry adoption.
Real-Time Event Monitoring
Like Meta Pixel Helper, but for everything:
[0.1s] Page load started
[0.2s] ⚠️ _fbp cookie set (pre-consent)
[0.3s] ⚠️ fbq('track', 'PageView') fired
[0.4s] ⚠️ gtag('event', 'page_view') fired
[0.8s] Consent banner displayed
[2.1s] User clicked "Accept All"
[2.2s] gtag('consent', 'update', {...})
[2.3s] Additional tracking initialized
This timeline shows exactly when violations occur and how consent changes affect tracking.
Installation
Chrome Web Store
- Visit the Chrome Web Store
- Search "GetCookies Pixel Scanner"
- Click "Add to Chrome"
- Pin the extension for easy access
Manual Installation (Developer Mode)
- Download the extension from getcookies.co/extension
- Open
chrome://extensions - Enable "Developer mode"
- Click "Load unpacked"
- Select the extension folder
Using the Extension
Quick Scan
- Navigate to any website
- Click the extension icon
- View instant results:
- Detected pixels
- Cookie inventory
- Consent Mode status
- Pre-consent violations
Detailed Analysis
Click "Full Report" for:
- Complete pixel list with fire events
- Cookie categorization
- Network request timeline
- Consent signal history
Export Results
Save findings as:
- JSON (for technical analysis)
- PDF (for client reports)
- CSV (for spreadsheets)
Use Cases
Competitive Analysis
Understand how competitors handle consent:
- What tracking do they use?
- How do they implement consent?
- Are they actually compliant?
Pre-Launch Verification
Before going live with website changes:
- Verify consent implementation works
- Check that script blocking is active
- Confirm Consent Mode signals fire correctly
Vendor Due Diligence
When evaluating marketing tools:
- Does the vendor's script respect consent?
- What cookies does it set?
- Does it work with Consent Mode?
Incident Response
When a complaint comes in:
- Document current tracking state
- Identify violation sources
- Capture evidence for remediation
Training and Education
Show stakeholders what tracking looks like:
- Demonstrate pre-consent violations
- Explain consent signal flow
- Visualize third-party data collection
What Makes This Different from Meta Pixel Helper
Meta Pixel Helper shows:
- Meta Pixel events only
- Event parameters
- Pixel ID
GetCookies Pixel Scanner shows:
- All tracking pixels (20+)
- Cookie analysis
- Consent Mode status
- Pre-consent violations
- GDPR compliance scoring
- CMP detection
It's the difference between checking one thing and auditing everything.
Privacy-First Design
The extension:
- Runs entirely locally in your browser
- Sends no data to external servers
- Doesn't require an account
- Doesn't track your browsing
- Open-source inspection available
We built a privacy tool. It would be ironic to make it a tracking tool.
Common Findings
"14 pixels detected, 8 firing pre-consent"
Severity: Critical
Many sites load all marketing pixels immediately. This is the most common violation. Each pixel that fires before consent is a separate GDPR infringement.
"Consent Mode: Missing ad_user_data"
Severity: High
Sites updated for Consent Mode v1 may not have added the v2 parameters. Without ad_user_data and ad_personalization, Google can't properly gate advertising features.
"No CMP detected"
Severity: High
If a site uses cookies but has no consent mechanism, there's no legal basis for tracking EU visitors. Basic but common oversight.
"CMP detected but pixels fire immediately"
Severity: Critical
Having a banner doesn't mean it works. If tracking loads before the consent check, the banner is cosmetic compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this extension work on all websites?
Yes. It monitors network activity and DOM changes on any site you visit.
Will websites know I'm scanning them?
No. The extension is passive monitoring. It doesn't inject anything or change page behavior.
Can I use this for client audits?
Absolutely. Export findings as PDF for professional reports.
Is the extension free forever?
Yes. The extension is completely free with no premium tier.
What about Firefox/Safari?
Currently Chrome only. Firefox version planned for Q2 2025.
Download Now
Get the extension from:
Every marketer has Meta Pixel Helper. Privacy-conscious teams need something that sees the whole picture.