Stealing website layout

[encoder]

Hi,

I have setup my own website with some graphics in JPG. PNG and GIF format.

My template was also designed from scratch.

But when I look at the visitor list, I see that some visitors visited my website only to download the graphic images.

I want to stop this and deny visitors to my website every attempt to downlaod graphics by right-clicking or by any other method.

I know that Microsoft stores all the images in a website in the "Temporary Internet Files" folder and as such makes it very easy to copy inages.

Is there a way to stop this "copy" behavior of some visitors?

Or at least make it very hard to access the graphic files?

TIA

[Early Out]

In a word, no. There is only one sure way to keep visitors from grabbing your images: don't post them on the Internet.

[wysiwyg]

It's impossible to determine (and unlikely) that visitors are stealing your layout. Their browser has to download every file to show it.

[Early Out]

It's impossible to determine (and unlikely) that visitors are stealing your layout. Their browser has to download every file to show it.
Exactly. If your home page has ten thumbnail images on it, the access logs for one visit to that page will show the following URLs being accessed:

example.com/index.html
example.com/image1.jpg
example.com/image2.jpg
example.com/image3.jpg
...
example.com/image10.jpg

That doesn't mean that the visitor is sitting there, typing the path to each image file. All the visitor has done is arrive at your home page. The browser gets index.html, looks at it, and says, "Ah, I see that I need these image files from the server in order to display this page." It then retrieves each of those image files, copying them to the visitor's PC, then displaying them on the page.

Some people seem to have the idea that the browser is sort of "looking" at the page on the server, with electronic binoculars. It doesn't work that way. Every element of the page is first copied to the visitor's PC; then, the page is displayed.

[ack]

There are javascripts you can add to your site that can disable right clicks of the mouse - so when people try to download your images, it prevents them.

there are still ways around this, but it helps as a deterrent.

[encoder]

There are javascripts you can add to your site that can disable right clicks of the mouse - so when people try to download your images, it prevents them.
there are still ways around this, but it helps as a deterrent.

Do you know where to download these Java scripts?

I have been told a while ago by a webdesigner that it is possible to show a graphic (image) on your website that when somebody tries to download it, the person gets an error message that the file he is trying to download is too big for his computer.

For example, something like a JPG image of 45 kb, but when you try to download it, it will show 4,5 GB.

[ack]

Yes, Here is a script

http://javascript.internet.com/page-details/disable-images-click.html

it creates an alert box when you try to right-click on the image

You can edit the info within that alert box to display whatever text...

[redsox9]

Just remember, as has been posted in this thread already, anyone who really wants to grab your content (text, images, etc.) does not have to work very hard to do it. Even though you might have a script that makes a first-pass attempt fail, the next attempt will likely succeed.

Again, if you really do not want your content "stolen," don't post it on the web.

[felgall]

Just remember that the people most affected by "no right click" scripts are legitimate visitors who use the menu for navigation and other useful purposes who will be driven away from your site because you have blocked their ability to use your site by removing their access to their preferred navigation menu.

The thieves will have disabled the ability of such scripts to run in their browser and so will be unaware that the script is there.

[Early Out]

And it's still pretty clear that the OP is assuming that people are "stealing" stuff from the website, based on a misunderstanding of what the access logs are showing. :rolleyes:

[MrDelish]

The best solutions I've come across if your images are indeed being stolen is to overlay your images with a transparent GIF. If someone tries right-clicking and downloading it, it will download the empty image instead. Since this will not prevent them from taking a screenshot, I think a watermark is the best way to go. That way they have to use something like Photoshop to take out your mark or give your site free advertising.

Once again, that's actually if your images are being taken and used without your permission.

[encoder]

I think a watermark is the best way to go. That way they have to use something like Photoshop to take out your mark or give your site free advertising.

I think that the "watermark" option will be the best solution.

Also for the pictures in my template.

I have give it a look on my website, and the watermarks can be small enough and in a color to not interfere with the visitors of my website, but still making a copy unusable.

This, together with the GIF overlay technique described by another poster will do the job.

I'm aware that if someone wants to copy the images at any price, he/she will succeed at the end.

But better to make illegal copying a h_ell of a job if I can.

Thanks

[mhJr_]

Just remember that the people most affected by "no right click" scripts are legitimate visitors who use the menu for navigation and other useful purposes who will be driven away from your site because you have blocked their ability to use your site by removing their access to their preferred navigation menu.

The thieves will have disabled the ability of such scripts to run in their browser and so will be unaware that the script is there.

Hit the nail.

[Kloutier]

I think you people have some great ideas. Perhaps early out gave up to quickly.

Other than the great list given
Water marks,
Scripts,
and best don't use pictures O_o

I would also look at leach protection.

There are some fun things you can do if some one tries to link some of you pictures (viva there scripts) to make an image or gif of your choosing appear. I Will try and find it in my books and post it here later.

[Early Out]

I think you people have some great ideas. Perhaps early out gave up to quickly.
I assume you mean "too" quickly. No, it's just that we've all been down this road countless times before.

First, most people who worry about people "stealing" their stuff don't have much to worry about - they are misreading the access logs, and thinking that simple site visits are actually examples of people downloading their images. They don't understand that every visit to the page generates a line in the access log for each image contained on that page.

Second, they're under the mistaken assumption that other people will somehow be able to profit by stealing their stuff. Their images may be nice, but they're usually not actually worth money (as most people discover when they try to sell their stuff).

Third, every attempt to "protect" stuff usually ends up just annoying harmless site visitors, while doing nothing to deter an actual thief.

You mention leach protection, by which I assume you mean "leech" protection. But what you're really talking about is hotlink protection, a simple "enable" choice on the Control Panel. Users should use this. It has nothing to do with theft of images, but rather with theft of bandwidth.

Leech protection is something else entirely, having to do with preventing users from giving out password information.

I see from your IP address that you work for Bluehost. This does not fill me with confidence.

[ack]

I honestly would not be so concerned about others stealing your content anyway. It would be wise to focus on what you are creating and building and not worry about how others conduct their business.

You wont get far by stealing or cheating or copying. That is no way to really get ahead and things have a way of coming full circle.

[foolinator]

Attempting to prevent people from stealing* your images is a completely misguided effort. You cannot succeed in this any more successfully than a television network can succeed in preventing viewers from recording a broadcast with their VCR.

*as others have stated, it is unlikely that anyone is stealing your images anyway.