protecting a data CD/DVD from being coppied

Hello,

I have a collection of PDF files and I want to write them into a CD/DVD in a way that the files can be seen/used only when the CD/DVD is in the CD/DVD rom.

I know there is no way for full data protection and there are many ways to copy a PDF file after it's opened. However, most of the users that I am dealing with are either no expert or don't have enough time. So if they cant select all the files and copy them together - I mean if the files are hidden or not directly accessible- they won't try to copy the files one by one.

I was wondering if there is any program for making such a CD/DVD with the data files hidden on it?
Or if it possible to write a simple code for creating an application to do so. An application that makes it possible to access to the hidden files on the CD/DVD. (I can work with C++ and C#)

Thank you :)
Arian

For that level of protection, I guess you could just encrypt each file and bury the key inside your access program.

Seems that you could protect the files, but for your original question, it's not too difficult for a person to do a web search to find programs to effectively image copy cds or dvds.

Let me ask the why. Doing this only causes in convenience for the user.

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Originally Posted by Salem

For that level of protection, I guess you could just encrypt each file and bury the key inside your access program.

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will you please guide me how to do so?

Thank you
Arian

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Originally Posted by rcgldr

Seems that you could protect the files, but for your original question, it's not too difficult for a person to do a web search to find programs to effectively image copy cds or dvds.

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I searched the net but I found image copy useful for audio files and not PDF.
It was about preventing the files from being ripped ....

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will you please guide me how to do so?

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O_o

The instructions are literally in the comment:

1): just encrypt each file
2): bury the key inside your access program

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It was about preventing the files from being ripped

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It can't be done; if you give me a disc, I'll eventually find a way to get the contents if I really want the contents.

That isn't because I'm some great hacker or anything like that; there are tools, as rcgldr says, that basically do this sort of thing for you if you use an existing approach.

Besides, I understand that you want to provide a normal disc with these normal PDF files and let people view them normally with normal PDF software as long as the disc is in the drive. (You said, for example, "there are many ways to copy a PDF file after it's opened" which implies that you aren't writing your own code to view the files just using existing tools.) This simply can not be done.

Sure, you can just hide the files. You could just mark them hidden in "Windows" or use the "." hidden prefix standard for "POSIX" operating systems. That will hide the files from a simple "ctrl+c"/"ctrl+v" if your users aren't "tech savvy", but it will also hide the files from most PDF software for exactly the same reason.

You could also record the files to the disc without recording the index, but you would have to make custom software to navigate the disc.

You could encrypt the files as Salem suggested, but you would have to make custom software to read the files.

You could encrypt the disc itself, but you would need a custom driver to read the disc.

You could do a lot of things, but if your goal is to somehow prevent copying of a perfectly normal file on a perfectly normal disc you should just give up.

Soma

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rcgldr

Seems that you could protect the files, but for your original question, it's not too difficult for a person to do a web search to find programs to effectively image copy cds or dvds.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by arian

I searched the net but I found image copy useful for audio files and not PDF.
It was about preventing the files from being ripped ....

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Most of these programs will just call it a copy operation as opposed to an image copy operation. Some programs can also copy a cd / dvd to an iso file. Note these aren't hacker programs. Most commercial cd / dvd products that can write (burn) cds or dvds include a copy feature. I'm not sure how cd or dvds or created to prevent standard programs from copying them.

Wiki article:

ISO image - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Originally Posted by phantomotap

O_o

The instructions are literally in the comment:

1): just encrypt each file
2): bury the key inside your access program

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Thank you. I read the comment; the problem is I don't know how to
1) just encrypt each file
2) bury the key inside your access program

Is it just and option in the setting tab of a PDF maker program or ... ?

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Originally Posted by phantomotap

You could encrypt the files as Salem suggested, but you would have to make custom software to read the files.

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You mean I have to write a software like "Acrobat reader"?!!!
or a simple program which calls/runs acrobat reader ??

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Is it possible (and useful)
1- To put all the files in a hidden folder.
2- To write an application using something like a flash player or C#. The application provides a menu containing a link to the hidden files. So the user has to click on each link if they want to see the file?
(I would have no problem, if they had enough time to go through all the files one by one and save them to their PC)

Thank you very much :)

The thought of having to use a (poor) 3rd party program just to play YOUR files is annoying to say the least. You understand how many years people have put into their software? You are not going to be able to replicate the experience.
So just stop. Stop. Stop trying to stop people from copying your stuff. It will just inconvenience/hurt your legal customers while the pirates laugh you in the face.
There just in no good solution to this. People and companies have been trying for years. Focus on making a good experience for your customers instead, and put effort into making people want to get it instead of pirating it.

There are commercial DVD authoring products that will encrypt your DVD like one that you buy in the store. You get what you pay for in this case.