[Hidden-tech] Registration before downloading a file

Jeff Hobbs jeffehobbs at gmail.com
Fri Jun 23 15:58:12 EDT 2006


Anne,

Will makes some good suggestions. My suggestion -- and this may be a
slightly more complicated solution than you asked for -- Drupal with the
ECommerce project addition has a really nifty web-based interface for
managing digital downloads (for pay or for free).

<http://drupal.org/node/67682>


~jeff

On 6/23/06, Will Loving <will at dedicationtechnologies.com> wrote:
>
>   ** Be a Good Dobee and help the group, you must be counted to post .
>   ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>
>
>
>
>  Hi Anne,
>
> I have a form to get to my download page and I've had a similar problem
> with rogue online services like Softpedia  that list the direct URL of the
> download page. I actively use VersionTracker.com to list my software, but
> these other services list you without your permission – mostly by copying
> from VersionTracker as far as I can tell. They don't respond to my emails to
> ask them not to do that and they regularly update their websites if I change
> the download link.
>
> There are a couple of techniques that I've seen people use. The main one
> is that the downloader fills out a form and is then sent an email with a
> link to a dynamically created web page. The page has a unique onetime link
> to the demo which I assume is being created on the fly, though I don't know
> by what method. Does anyone have any clues on this?
>
> Another issue I've come up against is how much information to require from
> downloaders before allowing them access to the demo page. For now I've
> settled on just requiring an email but leaving the option to include full
> address and comments. The people who are serious about the software fill out
> all the information. The problem is that I don't have a way at the moment of
> validating the email address. I'm considering generating an email to the
> downloader with a link to the download page rather than just taking them
> there. That way, if they enter a bogus email address (I'd say about 25% do)
> they won't get the email with the link. There is still the problem that the
> download page is readily accessible if someone knows the URL, but it's
> probably a step in the right direction.
>
> Finally, I always include a hard-coded expiration date in my demos and
> delete Master passwords before posting my demos. Both these things would
> take an extremely determined hacker to change.
>
> Will
>
> Will Loving, President
> Dedication Technologies, Inc.
>
>
>
> on 6/22/06 3:40 PM, Anne Campbell at acampbell at gmail.com wrote:
>
>    ** Be a Good Dobee and help the group, you must be counted to post .
>    ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>
>
> ------------------------------
> Hi all,
>
> A client of mine offers some software that his site visitors can download
> for free. Because of some piracy issues, he'd now like to require
> registration before users can download it. I thought about using a form that
> redirects to the download page, but I'm concerned that potential pirates
> will just pass around the URL of the download page itself.
>
> Is there a simple but more secure solution? Could this be handled by
> something like the PayPal shopping cart? I know that some shopping cart
> systems allow for pay-for-download, but since the software is free, it seems
> silly to pay for a robust shopping cart service.
>
> Please note that I'm just a Web designer, not a database programmer, so
> simple solutions are the key!
>
> Thanks very much -
> Anne
>
>
>
>
> --
>
>
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> DEDICATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
>
> - Developers of StudioSchool Pro -
>
> Professional FileMaker Pro Database Development
> For Non-Profits, Business, and Education
> -----------------------------------
> 7 Coach Lane  Amherst, MA 01002-3304   USA
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> will at dedicationtechnologies.com
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