Serendipity Forums

Hi,

is there some way to protect files (in any directory) from downloading outside the server? I tried to switch on the hotlink option in the cpanel of the server, but then a mp3 player flash-based that i have in a subdirectory doesn't work (i guess that hotlink option is too much).

I readed some howto about htaccess but i am not able to configure it correctly: without it, everything goes ok but anyone can link and download files from other refereers...

So, is it possible to protect files from "uploads" directory and some other specific directory (with my mp3 files) using a htaccess file in only these directories?

Many thanks for any help.

Regards

This cannot be done via htaccess, only via mod_rewrite.

Google for "mod_rewrite referrer block images" or something like that

Regards,
Garvin

This can prevent linking from another site but cannot pevent from ur files being downloaded. programs like offline explorer can rip ur site of all its content and save it on the harddrive.
If anyone knows of a way to protect those files, Let me know.
I'm making a fashion gallery and I don't want the images to be ripped from my server. Best i came up with is to make the directory password protected and use flash for my gallery with the password stored in the .swf file. Offline explorer cannot get inside flash.
Although there r lot of programs that can diassemble a .swf file and get the password. Its not fool proof, but atleast it will deter the newbies.

Another way is to embed the images inside mysql as binary, never tried it though.

The problem with posting your information on the web is that you're posting it to a public forum, which makes it inherently available to everyone...trying to control the "stealing" of that information is about impossible, and not really the "big picture" of the internet...Hotlink protection I understand, but "stolen image" protection just isn't feasible.

Here is a wonderful article that discusses this: http://www.karlcore.com/articles/article.php?id=18

Basically, the only way to keep people from stealing your things is to NOT put them online...

You might, though, consider image watermarks. At least then, you will be given credit for any pictures someone managed to nick...