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Introducing: Sheila Franek, Software Architect & Could Migration Manager, at ZeroCookie.NET Describe the business/organization you work for: ZeroCookie is built for organizations that want to offer a simple, trustworthy promise to their visitors: we don’t track you, we don’t sell your data, and you don’t need to click through a cookie banner. Many small websites want to respect privacy but don’t realize how many tracking scripts are quietly introduced through plugins, themes, and embedded tools. As a result, they rely on intrusive consent popups they don’t actually need. ZeroCookie scans for and disables tracking scripts, provides clear remediation guidance, and verifies true no-tracking compliance through an AWS-powered scanning and verification engine—allowing sites to remove cookie banners entirely and replace them with real privacy by design. What inspired you to start your own business, or why did you decide to work for this specific organization? I started this business after hearing the same frustration over and over from clients and everyday users: cookie popups are annoying, confusing, and feel meaningless. Most people don’t understand what they’re agreeing to, and most site owners don’t fully understand what their own websites are doing behind the scenes. I realized the real problem wasn’t consent—it was that tracking had become the default, even for businesses that never intended to collect data at all. ZeroCookie was born from the idea that privacy should be simple, honest, and proven by design, not buried behind popups and legal jargon What sets this business apart from others in the industry? What sets ZeroCookie apart is that it eliminates the need for cookie banners altogether instead of trying to manage them. Most tools in this space focus on collecting consent for tracking that’s already happening. ZeroCookie takes the opposite approach by identifying and disabling tracking at the source, then continuously verifying that no tracking is occurring. Rather than forcing users to accept confusing choices, ZeroCookie allows businesses to operate with a true no-tracking model and prove it through ongoing, automated verification. The result is genuine privacy by design, not privacy theater. What challenges have you faced as a business owner or employee, and how did you overcome them? One of the biggest challenges has been cutting through widespread confusion around privacy and compliance. Many businesses assume cookie banners are mandatory and don’t realize they’re often responding to a problem they don’t actually have. Overcoming this meant spending time deeply understanding the technical and regulatory landscape, then translating it into something practical and non-intimidating for nontechnical site owners. Another challenge has been building trust in a space crowded with fear-based compliance tools. We addressed that by focusing on transparency, clear explanations, and verifiable results—proving privacy through how the product works rather than through marketing claims. What advice would you give to someone looking to join your industry? Learn the fundamentals, build for the real world, and don’t chase hype. The best tech products are the ones that quietly work, scale cleanly, and solve real problems without getting in the user’s way. About the Idaho Technology Council The Idaho Technology Council (ITC) is a member-based organization that champions innovation and collaboration to grow Idaho’s economy through technology. Representing a dynamic and growing community of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and policymakers, ITC connects vision with action to position Idaho as a hub for innovation and opportunity. Learn more at www.idahotechcouncil.org . Connect with Sheila on LinkedIn HERE Check out ZeroCookie.NET HERE