Stop downloading my PICTURES!!!

[shunt]

Is it possible to disable options on the clients menu so that they would not be able to download any of the sites pictures etc. ? If so how?

[punkpie_uk]

I dont think there is any fully effective way of doing this.

You can start by searching a search engine to find the code to disable the right click button so the client cant view source/save picture as... BUT this leaves the view source menu.

To get around this you can force you site to disable Internet Explorers menus but this takes away the clients navigation right.

Even if you do this clients using netscape will still be able to leech as it only works in Internet Explorer.

You can also using software such as dreamweaver and something free like 1st Page to leech the url of your site and view the code.

I'd advise using the first method as users who dont know what they are doing but still want to download your pictures wont be able to figure out how to do it.

[chrismitchell]

one thing.. there is no completely fool proof way of doing this as unless the user is using a JavaScript enabled browser then it won't work..

Older browsers will ignore any "No Right Click" code that you use.

Chris

[chrismitchell]

<script>
function right(e) {
if (navigator.appName == 'Netscape' &&
(e.which == 3 || e.which == 2))
return false;
else if (navigator.appName == 'Microsoft Internet Explorer' &&
(event.button == 2 || event.button == 3)) {
alert("Sorry, you do not have permission to right click.");
return false;
}
return true;
}

document.onmousedown=right;
document.onmouseup=right;
if (document.layers) window.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEDOWN);
if (document.layers) window.captureEvents(Event.MOUSEUP);
window.onmousedown=right;
window.onmouseup=right;
</script>

Try that .. it will work in browsers that are 4.0+

Chris

[JoshT]

Don't even bother - they can always use a direct connection to your server to get the picture or do a screen capture. All disabling the right click will do is annoy people who use it the navigate, copy/paste, etc. And I believe IE6 will stick a button to save the image if the size is big enough anyway.

[chrismitchell]

JoshT = the man of reason :D

Its a shame tho.. there must be a way of stopping them .. but as you said.. they could just hook directly to the server...

One way if they are art images is to put COPY or SAMPLE on them to stop people re-using them.

[sweevo]

Yeah, there are always ways around any methods but you can do things to make it a bit more difficult. Things like slicing images up into loads of small bits, putting them in a table background and putting a transparent gif or something on top. But screen grabs will always be possible.

[chrismitchell]

That is very true.. oh well .. so much for protecting ones work :p

[JoshT]

Yeah, but some people would take making it more difficult as a challenge.:p

[chrismitchell]

You could always make a form for people to fill in and you could email them the art work.

[chrisjk]

Originally posted by JoshT
All disabling the right click will do is annoy people who use it the navigate, copy/paste, etc.indeed. My internet bank site disables it and it annoys the hell out of me.

I've also had pictures stolen from my sites but there's little you can do about it so don't concern yourself. If you don't want others to have it, don't put it on the net is the best advice.

[chrismitchell]

Originally posted by chrisjk
If you don't want others to have it, don't put it on the net is the best advice.

Exactly

[scoutt]

or take your pictures adn make then flash the .swf. tehre is a program that will convert jpeg to flash. other than that I agree with everybody else. put them up on the internet it will get taken.

[sail3005]

LOL, has anyone looked at their CACHE?

:p

fool proof way to get images ;)

[punkpie_uk]

Yeah, good point.

I went to college with someone who used to raid his cache every few days to get images ;)

[sail3005]

yeah, what i think that many people don't realize is that when you view a webpage, the files are actually local. a browser is basically a sophisticated download program :)

[scoutt]

but that can be stopped. you can make it so the page is not cached.

[shunt]

I think i'll go the flash root. Thanks for the input guys!

[chrismitchell]

Buggerit... never thought of Flash... D'oh!!!

[mendhak]

Originally posted by scoutt
but that can be stopped. you can make it so the page is not cached.

How do you NOT cache a page?

[scoutt]

Originally posted by mendhak


How do you NOT cache a page?
easy

<META HTTP-EQUIV="Pragma" CONTENT="no-cache">

but I think it will only work for Netscape. can't remember.

[chrismitchell]

Theres a surprise.. won't work in IE :p LOL

[chrisjk]

how is making it an swf ganna help? It won't whilst the print screen button is around AFAIK

[JoshT]

Even if it's not cached on disk, the image is still in memory somewhere...
Of course, I'd just run a packet sniffer and intercept the HTTP communication...

Honestly, just put a copyright disclaimer on the image if its that important, and leave the rest for the lawyers. The pages that I've seen that put the most effort into stopping people from stealing images are ones that have no permission to use the images in the first place.:( And to make it worse, I'm sure the author has a bunch of illegal mp3s or pirated software on their own computer.:(

[shunt]

Is there any sort of governing body that decides on internet law? If there is, where can I find it?

[chrismitchell]

The w3c may help but that won't necessarily help you as the law can't stop people from downloading your images.

[shunt]

Sure, it won't stop people from downloading my pictures. I just want a general does and don'ts. What can I copy, what can't I etc.

[shunt]

What about using viruses as a deterrent?

I have downloaded a site before and got a virus. This was in my early days, I didn't even know I was downloading the site.

Is it possible to attach viruses to the pictures?

[chrismitchell]

What's so important about these images.. Why the hell would you want to give someone a virus just because they like some of your work.. Personally I wouldn't use viruses and if you happened to have one of your viruses infect a large company you will get your ass sued!

Why the hell are you showing your images online if you are so determined for people not to steal them?

[sebs]

Originally posted by shunt
I think i'll go the flash root. Thanks for the input guys!

Make sure you protect your movie from import!

Cuz if you don't people will still be able to inport
you .swf into flash from their cache!

And i agree, that the best way of doing it!


But what if you do something like:

<img src="somepath/somefile.asp">

That way you would'nt be able to see the path of the files and
then you put a layer on top so that nobody can right click save!

The only thing left is the print screen, that's when you put a watermark!!

You can even put the watermark in the layer that sit on top of your
picture!

Have fun!

[Danial]

If you are too worried about your picture then you can place them in special control which disables the right clicks and disables print screen aswell. I had a link of such a control i will post it here if u are interested, not sure how much it costs though.

As for using flash, well last time i checked it takes few second to crack the protect features in Flash 4), havent tried it in Flash 5 i am sure it wont be hard.

Like the other said its kind of pointless to stop people, if someone wants a picture badly there is alyways a way around.

[shunt]

sebs seems to have it all worked out!


chrismitchell,
I am thinking about a site that deals with geographic maps. I want the maps available online for the general public to view, but I don't want them to be able to download them because my source sells them. I want to keep my source happy while still fulfilling my needs. Point taken about the virus though. I would not have done that anyway.

[shunt]

I realise that anything on the net can be broken given a certain amount of effort. However, my audience is only just computer literate. The site is aimed at the general South African public, and trust me, not many will go through the hassle of trying to crack any protection I put on files. Most actualy wouldn't have a clue where to start.

Those that do, I'm not too worried about anyway.

[chrismitchell]

I meant no offence by the Virus comment so I apologise if it came across that way...

I wish you luck with the web site :)