[wp-edu] protecting uploaded files from direct download (multisite)

[Covello, Steve]

Also: Download Monitor

http://wordpress.org/plugins/download-monitor/


- Steve

-- 
Steve Covello
Rich Media Specialist/Online Instructor
Granite State College
603-513-1346
Skype: steve.granitestate
Scheduling: http://meetme.so/stevecovello





On 8/10/13 4:43 PM, "Joseph Ugoretz" <joseph.ugoretz at mhc.cuny.edu> wrote:

>Has anyone found a good solution for this?
>
>Here's the basic scenario.  A class site wants to post links to class
>readings (as PDFs) for the students to download and read.  The instructor
>has copyright permission (or fair use exemption) to copy and distribute
>these readings to the class--but not to share them with the whole wide
>internet.
>
>So she uploads the files, puts the links on a separate page, and
>password-protects that page.  Then she gives the password for that page
>to the class, so the students can all get the files.
>
>So far, so good, but the problem is that even though the page is
>password-protected, the uploaded files are not.  So anyone who has the
>direct link can download those files without knowing the password. And
>google does index the content of pdf files, so it's very possible, in
>fact likely, that someone googling (for example) the author's name or
>some terms in the document will come across that direct link.
>
>I've tried as many of the .htaccess tricks for preventing this as I can
>find.  This looked like the best guide
>http://perishablepress.com/creating-the-ultimate-htaccess-anti-hotlinking-
>strategy/ but I tried many others.
>
>None of them seem to work at all for multisite.  They don't stop the
>problem in any way.
>
>If you've got a tip or trick, I'd love to hear about it!  I'd be happy
>with a solution that would work for the enitre network...or just for
>specific sites.  I'm OK with just about anything that will work!
>
>Thanks!
>
>Joe
>
>
>
>-- 
>Joseph Ugoretz, PhD
>Associate Dean
>Teaching, Learning and Technology
>Macaulay Honors College
>The City University of New York
>35 West 67th St.
>New York, New York 10023
>TEL 212-729-2920
>FAX 212-580-8130
>macaulay.cuny.edu
>
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