How to stop people downloading a product without buying it?

How would I go about making sure that visitors can only be sent to a download page for an eproduct after purchase, and not type in the url directly? In addition, make the download link(s) on that page only accessible from that page, again stopping people typing in an url directly.

 

A friend of mine a very respectable marketer has a beautiful script.

If you are regular on other marketing forums you'll probably know him or would have heard about his product.

You can purchase it from :
http://www.dlguard.com/

Not an affiliate link, but a recommendation from a happy customer.

~G

PS: Just check out the testi's and see who all have given the testi . That'll give you a fair enough idea that this product is one of the best of its sort.

 

i would put the product in a well placed path that wouldn't be easily guessable on the server and then use php or some other server-side language to link to the file and check to see if payment has been made and if it has then force the download via php (it's rather simple really) and if no payment has been made then take them to the order form and/or payment options.

 

Here's the script I use:

<?php
include "paid_for.php";
include "auth_user.php";

$size=filesize("/home/site/setup.exe");
header("Content-Type: application/octet-stream");
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="setup.exe"');
header("Content-Length: ".$size);

$handle = fopen("/home/site/setup.exe", "rb");
while (!feof($handle)) {
echo fread($handle, 8192);
}
fclose($handle);
?>

The paid_for script and the auth_user scripts just check that the user has properly logged in and that the correct flag is on their account showing they've paid for the program.

The trick is to make sure setup.exe (in this case) is stored outside your web directory.

 

DLGuard is a great product. You can also check out using something like e-junkie.com. It generates a dynamic, expiring link for downloading digital products.

I've used e-junkie for almost a year now, and have been happy with their service, especially at the price.

 

I had heard of DLGuard, so it's nice to see that users think it's good.

I was placing products in a difficult to guess path (calling the directory download is not a good idea) but of course that doesn't stop people from sharing a valid link once they've purchased it.

 

dlguard or that script above mentioned seem to do the trick on this issue

 

Okey! maybe Im putting my money on the wrong horse here but cant you just use paypal, ftp and F2(rename)? I mean it's free.

Just log on to your paypal account, connect to your ftp server/client, open the paypal thank you page, change the link people go to after buying your product, delete the old product and send the new product.

Example:
your paypal thank you page sends people to this page "www.mysite.com/product.pdf"
So every week just change the link, "www.mysite.com/product34523009.pdf"
just remember to change it also in your ftp manager or ftp client.

I know you have to do some work here but this is free!

later,

 

Or is it possible to ban all visitors that dont come from paypal?

 

I can also recommend DLguard as very effective. It also logs IPs and keeps customer data for you.

It's well worth it.

 

You could always hide the file deep in your server, and then require the user to register. Create a random string every time they log in, and copy the file over and rename it to that string. If they download it, great. Delete it when they logout, though, because it will be recreated next time they log in anyway.

Hope you followed that...it's late.

 

Unfortunately a determined thief could quite easily fake the referring website to get around this....

 

I would make a link, that gets stored in a database and once the buyer has clicked that link it expires. Its only valid for one download and it would be something like: /gdu5746fh2756.php

 

Yeah what I said. You just need to reupload (or do a .htaccess, but that may be able to be detected) the file to that specific location.

 

The code I posted could be adapted quite trivially to do what you want.

If you need more help PM me.

 

Yes, I agreed DLGuard can do a lot of wonders by protecting all your digital download link from hackers.

But there are 2 more...you can consider it

1. SmartDD - use to protect all digital products and it is very useful if you sell products at ebay

2. DigitalRepoMan - This is use to protect the product from being downloaded by strangers or hackers by locking the file it self.

 

Thanks for all the responses, I'll check them out.

 

if it is an executable. I would let anyone download it for free, and have an activation that requires you to pay. Someone is more likely to pay once its on their computer ready to go, than when they still have to download and pay.

 

Sorry to up old thread..I'm looking the same thing..

So lets say the customer already bought and successfully return from paypal website.. so thank you page is the download link.. is it ok to do that? .. how can make different link for every buyer.. and make it expire?

 

dlguard is the best you'll find. i recommand that too..