Analytics: Let’s #UnGoogle my blog

Antonio Nardella
Aug 31, 2018 · 3 min read

Analytics information about your page/blog, who can live without it?
At first I needed to get the page up and running and my choice fell for Google Analytics, now I’m taking my time to look for alternatives, where I am in control of the data and do not have to share it with anyone.

Here we have a look at a FOSS alternative to Google Analytics with a basis for GDPR compliancy.
My choice fell for Matomo (once Piwik). As they state:

Matomo is the only analytics platform that gives you full control over your data and more:

  • Free open-source software
  • 100% data ownership
  • User privacy protection
  • User-centric insights
  • Customisable and extensible
  • Easy to use
  • No data limits

For the installation I used the docker images, given my preference for docker-compose images and setups.

Matomo strives toward GDPR compliancy and this is another goal for this page too.


How did I set up Matomo for this goal, so far?

Data Anonymization:

Data anonymization
Data anonymization

Real Do not Track:

Do not track settings
Do not track settings

and footer notice if Do not Track is active:

Do not track notice
Do not track notice

Here and example of how the analysed data looks like:

Matomo Analytics
Matomo Analytics

Need your analytics on the go? Matomo has a mobile app to check your stats from anywhere and show them to colleagues in meetings. Matomo Mobile offers all the same reports as the desktop interface, and displays your visitor data in real-time!

matomo mbile
matomo mbile

This is just the beginning. Today my Google Analytics setup for this domain is now turned off. AntonioNardella.it will for some parts stop tracking you if so requested and this is what I would expect from others too.
Be aware there are still other hidden features like e.g. share buttons; Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook might still be tracking you!

If you have suggestions and can help to do even more, please contact me!


Originally published at Antonio Nardella.

Antonio Nardella

Written by

https://antonionardella.it; Geek; UAV Pilot; DLT Technologies;

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