=== ZeroCookie.NET™ Privacy Compliance ===
Contributors: soliventure
Tags: privacy, cookies, tracking, compliance, privacy-first
Requires at least: 6.0
Tested up to: 7.0
Stable tag: 1.0.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Privacy intelligence for WordPress that detects trackers, cookies, and third-party scripts and helps reduce unnecessary visitor tracking.

== Description ==

Visitors are tired of cookie consent banners.

ZeroCookie.NET™ takes a different approach to website privacy: instead of beginning with a popup asking visitors to accept tracking, it helps website owners understand what their sites are actually doing and reduce unnecessary tracking in the first place.

The plugin connects WordPress to the ZeroCookie.NET™ Privacy Intelligence platform. External scans observe publicly accessible website behavior to identify cookies, trackers, pixels, embedded services, and third-party scripts that may affect visitor privacy.

ZeroCookie.NET™ helps website owners:

* Discover cookies, trackers, pixels, and third-party technologies
* Understand which technologies may affect visitor privacy
* Identify privacy-respecting remediation options when available
* Monitor for changes introduced by plugins, themes, embeds, or integrations
* Display the ZeroCookie.NET™ Privacy Shield when verification standards are met

ZeroCookie.NET™ verifies technical website behavior. It does not provide legal advice or guarantee compliance with every law or regulation.

This plugin connects to ZeroCookie.NET™ services operated by Soliventure Inc.

== Installation ==

1. Install and activate the plugin.
2. Open ZeroCookie.NET™ from the WordPress admin menu.
3. Follow the onboarding prompts to register the website and select a service level.
4. Complete subscription setup through Stripe when prompted.
5. Run the initial privacy scan.
6. Review the findings and address issues as appropriate.
7. Scan again after changes.
8. When the site meets ZeroCookie.NET™ verification standards, the Privacy Shield can be displayed as a visible privacy signal.
9. Review your WordPress Privacy Policy page so it accurately reflects your website and business practices.

Scans are performed externally and do not require access to your WordPress database, administrator account, customer records, posts, pages, orders, or hosting credentials.

== External Services ==

ZeroCookie.NET™ Privacy Compliance relies on external services operated by Soliventure Inc. through ZeroCookie.NET™. These services provide scanning, privacy intelligence, subscription, billing, licensing, reporting, and verification functionality.

The plugin may send:

* Site domain
* WordPress administrator email address
* Selected subscription plan or service level
* License or verification identifiers
* Checkout/session verification information
* Checkout completion status
* Scan request details and trigger reason
* Technical information needed to associate results with the registered website

This information may be transmitted when the site owner registers the website, starts or completes checkout, verifies service status, restores plugin state, requests a scan, receives scan results, or during scheduled synchronization and monitoring.

ZeroCookie.NET™ uses this information to register the website, manage service status, perform external scans, generate findings and reports, and support ongoing monitoring.

The scanning service analyzes publicly accessible website behavior only and does not require access to the site's WordPress database, administrator accounts, customer records, posts, pages, comments, orders, or hosting credentials.

Service provider: Soliventure Inc. / ZeroCookie.NET™
Service website: https://zerocookie.net/
Terms of Service: https://zerocookie.net/terms-of-service/
Privacy Policy: https://zerocookie.net/privacy-policy/

Stripe is used to process subscription checkout and billing. Payment-card information is entered directly into Stripe and is not collected by the ZeroCookie.NET™ WordPress plugin.

Stripe: https://stripe.com/
Stripe Terms: https://stripe.com/legal/consumer
Stripe Privacy Policy: https://stripe.com/privacy

== What Makes ZeroCookie.NET™ Different ==

Many privacy tools begin with consent banners.

ZeroCookie.NET™ begins with the website itself.

A banner can tell visitors that tracking exists. ZeroCookie.NET™ helps website owners discover why that tracking exists, determine whether it is necessary, and reduce it where practical.

The platform focuses on observable website behavior and can help:

* Detect cookies, trackers, pixels, and third-party technologies
* Reveal changes introduced by plugins, themes, embeds, and integrations
* Reduce reliance on intrusive cookie popups by reducing unnecessary tracking
* Provide ongoing privacy visibility instead of a one-time configuration
* Display a visible ZeroCookie.NET™ Privacy Shield when verification standards are met

Privacy First means making privacy part of the website's operation—not merely adding another popup.

== Who Is This For? ==

ZeroCookie.NET™ is designed for website owners who want greater visibility into what their sites are doing and who prefer a privacy-first visitor experience.

Common use cases include:

* Local businesses and professional services
* Informational websites
* E-commerce and membership websites
* Organizations using forms, scheduling, payments, or embedded services
* Developers and agencies managing client websites
* Businesses that want to reduce unnecessary tracking

Websites that intentionally depend on behavioral advertising or extensive visitor profiling may require additional review or remediation before meeting ZeroCookie.NET™ verification standards.

== Features ==

* External privacy scanning based on observable website behavior
* Detection of cookies, trackers, pixels, and third-party scripts
* Technology identification and privacy intelligence
* Clear scan findings and reporting
* Ongoing monitoring for website changes
* Subscription and service-status synchronization
* ZeroCookie.NET™ Privacy Shield for verified sites
* Guidance for understanding and addressing privacy-impacting technologies

== Service Levels ==

ZeroCookie.NET™ offers service levels based on website complexity and monitoring needs:

* Basic
* Business
* Commerce / Membership
* Professional
* Agency

Current features, eligibility, and pricing are available at:
https://zerocookie.net/

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Does ZeroCookie.NET™ replace cookie consent banners? =

ZeroCookie.NET™ is designed to help reduce the tracking activity that often creates the need for cookie consent banners.

Whether a particular website legally requires a consent mechanism depends on the technologies it uses, how data is processed, applicable laws, and the website owner's circumstances.

= What happens if my site has privacy issues? =

ZeroCookie.NET™ reports technologies and behavior that may need attention and provides information to help you understand the findings. You can then remove, replace, reconfigure, or otherwise address technologies as appropriate and scan again.

= Does ZeroCookie.NET™ guarantee legal compliance? =

No. ZeroCookie.NET™ provides technical privacy intelligence and verification based on observed website behavior. Legal compliance can also depend on policies, disclosures, business practices, jurisdiction, and other factors.

ZeroCookie.NET™ does not provide legal advice.

= Will scanning slow down my site? =

Scans are performed externally and do not add scanning workload to normal visitor page rendering.

= Does the scanner access my WordPress database? =

No. External scanning analyzes publicly accessible website behavior and does not require access to your WordPress database, administrator account, customer records, posts, pages, orders, or hosting credentials.

= Where can I get support? =

Email support@zerocookie.net or use the WordPress.org support forum after the directory listing is live.

== Screenshots ==

1. ZeroCookie.NET™ Shield displayed on a verified website
2. Plugin dashboard with scan results
3. Privacy status overview
4. Scan report showing detected technologies and findings

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial public release
* External privacy scanning and verification
* Privacy technology detection and reporting
* ZeroCookie.NET™ Privacy Shield
* Subscription, billing, and service-status integration
* ZeroCookie.NET™ Privacy Intelligence platform integration

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 1.0.0 =
Initial public release of ZeroCookie.NET™ Privacy Compliance for WordPress.
