Prevent files from being copied

[Belini]

Is there any way to prohibit any kind of file copying while my program is open?

I have encrypted files that are released by my program at certain times and I need to prevent them from being copied when they are being used by my program without encryption!

[FrancescoDiMuro]

45 minutes ago, Belini said:

Is there any way to prohibit any kind of file copying while my program is open?

I have encrypted files that are released by my program at certain times and I need to prevent them from being copied when they are being used by my program without encryption!

Hi @Belini

I was looking at this, but I didn't manage to lock some files I was working on...

I think that, to lock a file from copying, you should work on Files/Folders permissions...

Something like:
- While your script is running, so set 0 the permission to copy, delete, move... a file;
- As your script is not running anymore, set 1 the permission to copy, delete, move... a file.

Hope that helps

 

[JLogan3o13]

What about setting their attribute to hidden, or dumping them into a buried directory where the end user wouldn't think to look? You know that with AutoIt you are not going to get 100% security.

[Belini]

Quote

Something like:
- While your script is running, so set 0 the permission to copy, delete, move... a file;
- As your script is not running anymore, set 1 the permission to copy, delete, move... a file

@FrancescoDiMuro this solution would be perfect, how can I change the file permissions using Autoit?

Quote

What about setting their attribute to hidden, or dumping them into a buried directory where the end user wouldn't think to look?

@JLogan3o13 this I already did and other people could find where the file was decrypted, I need to prevent copying and delete the file when my program is no longer using it!

[JLogan3o13]

The problem with setting the permissions is that (presumably) you're running the script under the end user's credentials - which means if they are as tenacious as you say they are they will have rights to change the ACLs back. You can do a google search on setting ACLs on files - there is even a set ACL UDF on this forum if you search - but you would have to do it under credentials the end user does not have access to.

[Belini]

@JLogan3o13 I found the ACL UDF and I used the _DenyAllAccess() function to restrict all object access and this worked but I need it to be released just for reading and using _GrantReadAccess() released for reading and for copying as well, how to release only for reading?

Edited September 12, 2017 by Belini

[Luigi]

My sugestion: https://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/docs/libfunctions/_WinAPI_LockResource.htm

[spudw2k]

10 hours ago, Luigi said:

My sugestion: https://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/docs/libfunctions/_WinAPI_LockResource.htm

How is that going to help?

[Belini]

6 hours ago, spudw2k said:

How is that going to help?

I also could not understand how this can help

[Luigi]

My mystake, I want say: https://www.autoitscript.com/autoit3/docs/libfunctions/_WinAPI_LockFile.htm

[Belini]

How can I tell when a file is being copied? If I can tell when a copy was started I can shut down the computer and this would solve my problem!

[czardas]

Can't you just access the decrypted data in RAM without writing to disk? Is it such a lot of data to hold in memory?

Edited September 15, 2017 by czardas

[Belini]

I think it might work but I do not know how to decrypted in RAM without writing to disk, they are video files that I need to protect and release to play without letting them be copied!

[czardas]

I would have thought _Crypt_DecryptData() would suffice (I haven't used it, so I'm not sure). Unfortunately videos are likely to require too much RAM. I'm also not sure how you would then play the video(s) after that. I'm sure it's doable though. If it were just plain text, it would be easy.

Edited September 17, 2017 by czardas

[jchd]

Perhaps the answer is to decrypt in RAM enough blocks ahead to cope with potential system lag but not the whole beast.

 

[czardas]

I think you just invented streaming video. This is a bit over my head. The earlier suggestion (using permissions) sounds a lot simpler. I would still love to see an example of streaming video implemented in AutoIt. Maybe one already exists - I haven't looked.

Edited September 17, 2017 by czardas

[jchd]

In fact the final answer has been posted to the French forum, where the OP is duplicating his request.

[czardas]

Perhaps you could share the link.

I think I got it: https://www.autoitscript.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=14688

Edited September 17, 2017 by czardas

[jchd]

That ?

BTW posting the same request on two fora means twice the job for readers/helpers.

[czardas]

I get your point.