5 Simple Steps to Protect your
Digital Downloads
by: Priya Florence Shah
A
couple of days ago, I was searching for a popular
eBook online.
Now
I'm not going to tell you the name of this eBook for
reasons you'll understand in the next few minutes.
Okay,
so here I was, opening Google, entering the name of
the eBook - clicking search, and checking through
the first few pages of search results.
->
Forward to Page 5 of Google
I
saw a link that looked like a PDF document.
Right
click -> open in new window
There,
in full glory, was the eBook I was searching for!
The
complete eBook, mind you, not a trial or demo - sitting
there for the world to download.
And
this is a product that sells for over $25 online!!
Obviously
I'm not going to tell you the name of the eBook because
it would not be fair to the reseller.
But
it just made me realise that one of the reasons digital
theft is so prevalent is simply because... its so
EASY!
Don't
get me wrong. I don't condone theft of any kind -
digital or otherwise.
But
would YOU shell out $25 for a product that everyone
can 'legally' download off the 5th page of Google?
Most
people would just shrug their shoulders, hit the save
button and thank their lucky stars.
Result:
The opposite of $ KA-CHING $ for the sellers
One
of the problems with selling digital products online
is that it is so SIMPLE to do. So now everyone and
their grandmother wants to do it.
But
most newbies have no idea that it requires only a
few simple steps to ensure a moderate degree of security
for your downloads.
So
here I've outlined the five most BASIC security steps
That anyone selling digital products online must take.
These
will take you only a few minutes to do, and you do
not need any special software or programming knowledge.
1.
ZIP THAT FILE
The
biggest problem arises when sellers store their downloads
as PDF documents, as in my experience above.
Now
you should know that Google, Altavista and many other
search engines can read and list PDF files.
While
this may not be a problem for those adding content
to their sites in the form of PDF newsletters and
reports, it also means that you must never store a
product you want to SELL as a PDF file (unless it
is in a password- protected folder).
It
gets worse. Google also converts your PDF files into
HTML documents. So ordinary browsers not only have
access to your PDF file, but - horror of horrors -
they can download your SOURCE FILE as well!!
The
next logical step is for them to customize it with
their own links, compile it and sell it or give it
away.
Result:
The opposite of $ KA-CHING $ for the sellers ...AND
the author.
A
simple way of keeping your files out of the reach
of spiders is to upload them as a zip file. Search
engines cannot look inside zip files (yet) and list
their contents.
2.
CREATE AN INDEX.HTML FILE
You
MUST have an index.html file in EVERY folder. It acts
like a curtain that keeps your files away from prying
eyes.
A
folder without an index file is like a house without
walls. Everyone can enter and help themselves to the
valuables.
The
'index.htm' file is the default file that opens when
you click on the link here -
http://ebizwhiz-publishing.com/
If
you don't create an index.htm or index.html file,
you'd be allowing everyone to directly access the
root directory of the folder where you store your
downloads.
Here
is a folder I uploaded to show you what happens when
you DON'T have an index file. http://ebizwhiz-publishing.com/test/
As
you can see, all the files stored in it are clearly
visible and ready to download.
And
yes, feel free to help yourself - I won't accuse you
of stealing :-)
3.
SHOW PEEPING TOMS THE EXIT
You
can use a simple script to redirect peeping Toms back
to your home page.
Here's
the easiest way to do it using what it called a "meta
refresh tag." Add it between the Header tags
like this.
Just
replace my URL with your own in the example above
and paste it into the head of your document (before
your text).
You
can see how it works by clicking on the test folder
here. http://ebizwhiz-publishing.com/redirect/
Now
even though you click on the folder URL, you will
be sent to my home page.
4.
SPIDER-PROOF YOUR DOWNLOAD PAGES
To
prevent search engine spiders from reading and listing
the download pages that link to your eBooks add the
tag below in the head of the document.
This
"Robot" tag tells the spider that this page
is not to be spidered or indexed. As a result it should
never show up on a search.
5.
CHANGE YOUR DOWNLOAD LINKS OFTEN
To
prevent unscrupulous people from posting your download
links on forums or message boards, change the folder
or file name where you store them from time to time,
even if it means having to change the download links
in your merchant account.
Using
these methods will give you a good degree of satisfaction,
knowing that you have taken the most basic steps to
protect your digital valuables - and at absolutely
no cost to you.
If
you want greater security and more information on
plugging the security loopholes in your website, you
should take a look at this very revealing report by
Bogdan Ravaru.
The
HTML Security Report http://ebizwhiz-publishing.com/secureport/
About
The Author Priya Shah is webmistress of http://www.1whey2health.com.
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