How to make a video link not sharable?
- Thread starter big cat
- Start date
-
- Tags
- video video sharing youtube
RobertTheShark
Regular Member
- May 10, 2018
- 214
- 82
No, it is not possible.
Even if you would use a service where the video can only be viewed one time and gets deleted, the other person could still save the video or restore it from the cache and share it with others.
Even if you would use a service where the video can only be viewed one time and gets deleted, the other person could still save the video or restore it from the cache and share it with others.
RobertTheShark
Regular Member
- May 10, 2018
- 214
- 82
The problem is, that the other person can still download the video and share it with others.
RobertTheShark
Regular Member
- May 10, 2018
- 214
- 82
Yes. Thechnically the video has to be downloaded on your computer so you can watch it. This is called "caching" and it is possible to restore files from your browser cache.
But besides that, there also multiple tools for downloading the video. Just because the video link is not listed for the public or is password protected doesnt mean that someone can not download the video.
These are simply two different processes.
mnunes532
Elite Member
- Jan 21, 2014
- 2,131
- 826
@RobertTheShark is right about everything he wrote but there can be a way.
Forget youtube, it isn't good for what you want.
You need to host the video in your website. Then the video would load with a token (I think we call it that way) like website.com?video.mp4&token=123
As soon as the video loads the token expires. If they try to manually download the video by accessing the link it won't work because the website/server will return an error message.
The problem is, I don't know if its possible to download the video from the "cache"...
EDIT: It is possible to view the video from cache. Here's how:
It is possible to send headers from the server and tell the browser to prevent caching YET it is still possible to alter those headers sent from the server using a proxy like CharlesProxy or similar programs. Still this would require the user or the person trying to download the video to have some knowledge on how http requests work, etc but nothing that a developer couldn't do.
EDIT 2: Have a look at how udemy is doing with their videos. maybe you could do the same.
Forget youtube, it isn't good for what you want.
You need to host the video in your website. Then the video would load with a token (I think we call it that way) like website.com?video.mp4&token=123
As soon as the video loads the token expires. If they try to manually download the video by accessing the link it won't work because the website/server will return an error message.
The problem is, I don't know if its possible to download the video from the "cache"...
EDIT: It is possible to view the video from cache. Here's how:
It is possible to send headers from the server and tell the browser to prevent caching YET it is still possible to alter those headers sent from the server using a proxy like CharlesProxy or similar programs. Still this would require the user or the person trying to download the video to have some knowledge on how http requests work, etc but nothing that a developer couldn't do.
EDIT 2: Have a look at how udemy is doing with their videos. maybe you could do the same.
Last edited:
RobertTheShark
Regular Member
- May 10, 2018
- 214
- 82
EME (Encrypted Media Extension) is what Netflix and the others use for their DRM protection.
So maybe there is some service offering that for OP, because implementing that on your own site is way too heavy.
I also forgot: if one wants to really save your video he could just record it with a screen recorder lol.
So maybe there is some service offering that for OP, because implementing that on your own site is way too heavy.
I also forgot: if one wants to really save your video he could just record it with a screen recorder lol.
I don't think most of the people will know how tto do.anything too.complicated. So I can host on my own site but will I need something more to support a video? Also I plan to have more than 1 video and also was to post some pictures.
@RobertTheShark will the EME prevent people from downloading the video? Is that something that would be used on.my own site or YouTube?
- Sep 10, 2010
- 11,808
- 26,660
Host your content in your own server. Then use a one time usable URL to stream that. For a tutorial, this one should be useful
Additionally, do not use HTML5 to embed the video. Use a flash player , which will make it harder for the user to download the video. With that, you can break up the video into tiny segments and call one segment after another ( from your flash player ofcourse. If you do that, you will need to make a custom flash player).
Code:
https://www.sitepoint.com/generating-one-time-use-urls/Additionally, do not use HTML5 to embed the video. Use a flash player , which will make it harder for the user to download the video. With that, you can break up the video into tiny segments and call one segment after another ( from your flash player ofcourse. If you do that, you will need to make a custom flash player).
Thanks. Will it be possible to support a fee videos on the same site? Also Should I do something to copyright my video just in case someone does find a way to download it?
- Sep 10, 2010
- 11,808
- 26,660
Not sure what you mean. Do you mean free videos? Ofcourse you can. Depends on the site structure. You can even use the same mechanism and just allow everyone to access the free videos.
For copyright, you can watermark your videos easily. That should atleast make it harder for someone else to reupload it somewhere.
- Sep 10, 2010
- 11,808
- 26,660
Ofcourse it can, depending on how you build the site lol. If you take my advice, get the DB schema sorted before you move on to securing your videos.