Protecting images
Discussion
Hi guys,
Okay, I have a problem. I'm new to this Intersitey creating thingy, and I'm using Register1's VDS Pro service, which is jolly good.
But now I have a small problem. I've got a site up and running that contains little thumbnail images of scans that you click on to open a new window and view the full-size image. I want to disable right-clicking for these scans so that people can't swipe all my hard work and display it on their own websites, so I've got a little Javascript that disables right-clicking.
At least, it disables right-clicking in IE. When I try the same operation in Firefox and Netscape, I can right-click on the images as much as I like.
So my question is: how do I disable right-clicking in all browsers? Or is there a better way of stopping people from saving images from my site?
And just to complicate matters, I've got another part of the site where I've saved the photos from CREAM, and I don't want to disable image downloading there.
Any ideas?
>> Edited by SGirl on Tuesday 4th October 13:23
Okay, I have a problem. I'm new to this Intersitey creating thingy, and I'm using Register1's VDS Pro service, which is jolly good.
But now I have a small problem. I've got a site up and running that contains little thumbnail images of scans that you click on to open a new window and view the full-size image. I want to disable right-clicking for these scans so that people can't swipe all my hard work and display it on their own websites, so I've got a little Javascript that disables right-clicking.
At least, it disables right-clicking in IE. When I try the same operation in Firefox and Netscape, I can right-click on the images as much as I like.
So my question is: how do I disable right-clicking in all browsers? Or is there a better way of stopping people from saving images from my site?
And just to complicate matters, I've got another part of the site where I've saved the photos from CREAM, and I don't want to disable image downloading there.
Any ideas?
>> Edited by SGirl on Tuesday 4th October 13:23
agent006 said:
Could you not put a big "Copyright SGirl 2005" banner over the images in a suitably unsubtle font?
Well, I could - but there's over 300 of them and that's the easy way out anyway. I like a challenge.
But you're right - that's my next option, if I can't get it working any other way. Cheers!
Since anyone with the slightest nouse would look at your source, work out the name of the image and just directly load that if they really wanted to poach something, I'd recommend that you go with the "Copyright" approach. Let's face it, since you have to send the data that comprises the image for it to be displayed there is nothing to stop me writing a bit of code that does the necessary rabbiting to the webserver to con it into sending it to me anyway, regardless of browser checks and obscure scripty rot. 
TeamD said:
Since anyone with the slightest nouse would look at your source, work out the name of the image and just directly load that if they really wanted to poach something, I'd recommend that you go with the "Copyright" approach. Let's face it, since you have to send the data that comprises the image for it to be displayed there is nothing to stop me writing a bit of code that does the necessary rabbiting to the webserver to con it into sending it to me anyway, regardless of browser checks and obscure scripty rot.
Really?! Great. They don't tell you that when you buy the website template.
Okay! That's good advice. Thanks guys! I owe you both a beer.
TeamD said:
Even worse...what's to stop me from using the screen capture option of something like paintshop pro to just snaffle the image from the screen without allowing the webbrowser any say in it at all. Guess this makes it look like I do this sort of stuff on a regular basis eh?
You sound suspiciously like someone who's been practising all these tricks, actually.
Whatever you do you won't stop it so no point really, just add a logo to all large images.
Disabled right clicking is really just for IE as some other browsers can still do it and if anyone really wants the images they'll either view the source code and manually download the image or use an offline browser to download the website in it's entirity.
Disabled right clicking is really just for IE as some other browsers can still do it and if anyone really wants the images they'll either view the source code and manually download the image or use an offline browser to download the website in it's entirity.
FourWheelDrift said:
Whatever you do you won't stop it so no point really, just add a logo to all large images.
Disabled right clicking is really just for IE as some other browsers can still do it and if anyone really wants the images they'll either view the source code and manually download the image or use an offline browser to download the website in it's entirity.
I don't suppose anyone would want the entire website.
But you're right. If anyone wants the data, they'll get it somehow. But I can make it at least a little more difficult by putting graffiti all over the pics. But like I said - the CREAM pics will remain unmolested! So if anyone on PH wants any of those, they only have to help themselves. Or e-mail me for full-size copies.
Plotloss said:
Dont implement no right click javascript whatever you do.
I doubt I'm the only one that uses back from the right context menu rather than the toolbar.
Blocking right click is a pointless pain in the arse to be quite frank.
Oh. Okay then Frank.
Just implementing it is proving to be a pointless pain in the arse too. So there's no point in having it. I'll get rid of it as soon as I've put logos on all the images. Darnit - got here too late - as mentioned - blocking the right click is a complete waste of time.
In fact, when I had more time and inclination on my hands I used to make a point of ripping images from sites that adopt this approach - I'd then posting them all into a relevant Usenet binaries group.
In fact, when I had more time and inclination on my hands I used to make a point of ripping images from sites that adopt this approach - I'd then posting them all into a relevant Usenet binaries group.
SGirl said:
No matter what you do someone can read the source to the page and grab the image. If you really want to stop people right clicking create a transparent div and layer it over the image...
Whoa!! That's way beyond me. I haven't a clue how to do that.
A lesser-known nifty trick is to cloak images behind a transparent gif. Place the original image on the page in a table or layer, then place a transparent GIF image the same size over the top. When users right-click the image they will save the transparent GIF and end up with nothing.
This website makes some interesting reading on just the topic you are after
www.aeronautics.ru/news/news002/news064.htm
r988 said:
robbieduncan said:
No matter what you do someone can read the source to the page and grab the image. If you really want to stop people right clicking create a transparent div and layer it over the image...
Whoa!! That's way beyond me. I haven't a clue how to do that.
A lesser-known nifty trick is to cloak images behind a transparent gif. Place the original image on the page in a table or layer, then place a transparent GIF image the same size over the top. When users right-click the image they will save the transparent GIF and end up with nothing.
In which case you can extract the relevant image from the browser cache. Or run a local proxy and extract the image from *it's* cache.
There is no way whatsoever you can do what the OP is asking for, at least not for someone who knows what they're doing; displaying the image on the user's PC without giving them access to it... Once I have the data on my machine, then I can do what I like with them.
Including, BTW, steganography. I can run stegdetect on the images and then remove the steganographic watermark. Like the security dweebs say, physical access trumps everything.
TheExcession said:
Darnit - got here too late - as mentioned - blocking the right click is a complete waste of time.
No you didn't. I haven't done it.
I'm not going to do it. I'm just going to mess around with the JPGs and add a copyright notice to each one. Then if anyone wants to take the pics, they can - but my name will be all over them. Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff