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How do I make a secure eBook

by Marc Jager
25 replies
I've been trying to make a pdf file that has specific security policies.
It should be able to be accessed but NOT printed or copied or edited.
I'm using Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional.
Whenever I set security with those parameters, it won't even let the document be opened.

Is there an easier way or can someone explain how this is done?

Do you guys even bother with security/access settings when you sell your eBooks?

Thanks Warriors
#ebook #make #secure
  • Profile picture of the author ghyphena
    Apart from the standard obscure-name download URL and secure expiring links?

    Recently I started using a program called White Knight Protector. It secures your ebooks and then any computer running them has to first register its copy. You control the registry database, so if you see a copy registered that doesn't match up to a receipt you can just click a button & disable that copy.

    Can't post links yet due to low post count, but you should find it on Google. Made by Alan Reese & costs $20 a month.

    That might do the copying/editing bit... don't know about printing though.

    Gil-Ad
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  • Profile picture of the author Ryan700
    I think some people don't bother - for whatever reason. OpenOffice.org has this feature in creating your PDF's. I've asked this question before @ http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...pdf-files.html Lots of good info.
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  • Profile picture of the author TheMagicShow
    Originally Posted by Marc Jager View Post

    I've been trying to make a pdf file that has specific security policies.
    It should be able to be accessed but NOT printed or copied or edited.
    I'm using Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional.
    Whenever I set security with those parameters, it won't even let the document be opened.

    Is there an easier way or can someone explain how this is done?

    Do you guys even bother with security/access settings when you sell your eBooks?

    Thanks Warriors
    Security settings on a .pdf will not receive a warm welcome by your customers. People don't want to go through an obstacle -- to read your ebook after they made their payments.

    It's an unfortunate fact that ebooks get shared and distributed, one way to fight this is to offer better support, upgrades and exclusivity for paid customers.
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    " You can either give a man a fish and feed him for a day OR teach him how to catch a fish and it will feed him for a lifetime"

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    • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
      Originally Posted by Magic Mel View Post

      Security settings on a .pdf will not receive a warm welcome by your customers.
      There are two semi-security features that can work.

      First, put a unique string in the filename.

      Second, put a unique serial number in the book itself.

      These don't actually prevent piracy, but nothing really does. Anything you put on your ebook to stop pirates will just annoy legitimate customers; pirates are well skilled at stripping protection out of files, they do it all the time. They're experts, and you can't outwit them.

      You can just hardcode these and leave them the same in every copy. Put the number 1394857 in the bottom left corner of every page, then name your file "whatever-1394857.pdf" and shove it on the server.

      You might think that if you change the number, it will help you track who pirated the files, but it doesn't - anything you can change for every customer can be changed by a pirate, so they'll just brand the pages "4204666" and rename the file.
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  • Profile picture of the author Marc Jager
    Oh good news - I'd really rather not bother with all that tech stuff!

    Thanks you guys!
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    • Profile picture of the author athibaul
      Hi,

      If you are still looking for a way to protect your eBooks, you could take a look at Secure-eBook.com. Secure-eBook takes care of the whole eBook selling process, including the secured delivery of your eBooks.

      Since I don't wish to make this post look like an ad, I will let you take a look at it and see if this can be useful for you.

      The only last thing I can say is that there are now hundreds of authors or publishers using Secure-eBook and some are selling hundreds of eBooks every month, even when using the most aggressive protection method.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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        • Profile picture of the author athibaul
          Originally Posted by alexa_s View Post

          Are they delivered as ".exe" files, Alain?
          Secure-eBook offers two methods for the secured delivery : "eBook Activation" and "Secured Download".

          When using "eBook Activation", the eBook is actually delivered as an ".exe" file. This is the most aggressive protection method.

          When using "Secured Download", only the download link is protected and the eBook can be delivered in any format (PDF, Word, PowerPoint, etc.)
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          • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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            • Profile picture of the author ASM Marketing
              Originally Posted by alexa_s View Post

              Thanks for your reply, Alain.

              Does this mean that when using "Secured Download" the eBook itself is not protected and can still be sent by anyone to anyone as an email attachment, so that the ".exe" file version is the only "secure" one really? (I ask because, like many people here, I'm still trying to find a "non-.exe-file" way of preventing people from illicit eBook circulation, though I suspect that actually there isn't one?).
              Alexa,

              Im pretty sure there is no method of preventing the circulation of a PDF, or EXE file. Unfortunately with the abundance of torrent sites and file hosting sites out there, digital products will always be spread illegally.

              The best thing you can do is make sure the information you provide is of the highest value so that if it does get spread about, you're reputation is only growing AND you have the potential to earn money from the use of your affiliate links etc. Think positive

              Alex
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              • Profile picture of the author Lawrh
                I make reports I want spread as far and wide as possible. What I don't want is the content being changed ie: my links. Open Office does this easily, instead of clicking the PDF button, choose file, export to PDF. Under security set a permission password and select changes not permitted and uncheck enable copying of content.

                Normal users won't notice a thing. Unsavory types cannot edit or copy and paste.
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            • Profile picture of the author athibaul
              Originally Posted by alexa_s View Post

              Thanks for your reply, Alain.

              Does this mean that when using "Secured Download" the eBook itself is not protected and can still be sent by anyone to anyone as an email attachment, so that the ".exe" file version is the only "secure" one really? (I ask because, like many people here, I'm still trying to find a "non-.exe-file" way of preventing people from illicit eBook circulation, though I suspect that actually there isn't one?).
              Yes. "Book Activation" will protect the eBook itself but will put it in a ".exe" file. This is the most secured option since the eBook is protected even if it is sent to others after it has been downloaded.

              "Secured Download" will only protect the download link by making it valid for a limited time period and for a maximum number of downloads (configurable by the author). This option offers more flexibility but won't prevent the eBook from being sent to others after it has been downloaded.
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              • Profile picture of the author John Durham
                If you write original enough content out of personal experience, and weave in your key messages (or sprinkle them all around sparsely), here and there, and throughout, then it wouldn't do anyone any good to copy it, because they would have to re-write it all over from scratch to make the content usable.
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  • Profile picture of the author ASM Marketing
    Originally Posted by Marc Jager View Post

    I've been trying to make a pdf file that has specific security policies.
    It should be able to be accessed but NOT printed or copied or edited.
    I'm using Adobe Acrobat 8 Professional.
    Whenever I set security with those parameters, it won't even let the document be opened.

    Is there an easier way or can someone explain how this is done?

    Do you guys even bother with security/access settings when you sell your eBooks?

    Thanks Warriors
    Marc,

    Here is how you do it in Adobe Professional 8:



    Open your ebook and select 'Security > Password Protect'



    Select your options such as compatibility, copy protection, password protection etc. Leave password blank if you don't want to use one

    Hope this helps!

    Alex
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    • Profile picture of the author Marc Jager
      Thanks guys.
      Cheers ASM Marketing, I had only tried the certificate method as I didn't want people to have to type a password once they'd paid for the book... Didnt realise you could just leave it blank!! Legend! Thanks!

      Just for interest - I tried a 3rd party program for security and it caused Adobe Professional 8 not to load. Once the 3rd party product was uninstalled, Adobe Professional 8 ran again.

      Thanks for all your inputs. I'm thinking for most of my stuff I won't even bother with security.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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        • Profile picture of the author CDarklock
          Originally Posted by alexa_s View Post

          One of you technically-minded guys should invent something, here.
          You can't. There's no way any team of programmers, no matter how brilliant, can outsmart fifty million pirates trying to break the system.
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          "The Golden Town is the Golden Town no longer. They have sold their pillars for brass and their temples for money, they have made coins out of their golden doors. It is become a dark town full of trouble, there is no ease in its streets, beauty has left it and the old songs are gone." - Lord Dunsany, The Messengers
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          • Profile picture of the author Marty S
            Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

            You can't. There's no way any team of programmers, no matter how brilliant, can outsmart fifty million pirates trying to break the system.
            Exactly right. That's why I say JOIN THEM - but not how you might think. Instead get the Pirates on your side to help distribute YOUR eBook.

            1- Make a slightly different version (title) of your eBook with a higher price, and stuff it with affiliate links. Use Acrobat Pro 8 or 9 to put a simple password on it.

            2- Then upload it to a few major torrent sites along with a notepad file with the same title but "password" added to it. In the text file write basic password instructions and give a few different versions of the password, one of which WILL work.

            If you upload it to a few of the torrent sites, it will eventually end up on many of them as long as it has a value/price point and people think they are actually stealing it.
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          • Profile picture of the author John Durham
            Originally Posted by CDarklock View Post

            You can't. There's no way any team of programmers, no matter how brilliant, can outsmart fifty million pirates trying to break the system.
            Which is why the scarcity mindset is pointless in business.
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  • Profile picture of the author iw433
    It should be able to be accessed but NOT printed or copied or edited.
    I have software that will do that without needing to use a password. The software will not let it be copied and will not let it be copied. PM me if you want it.
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnnyPhunk
    If your book is any good, it will be shared on P2P filesharing sites.

    If you find it on p2p sites....consider it a compliment.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mary Green
      I have to agree with JohnnyPunk, if its good it WILL be shared, they always find a way. I understand protecting your things, truly I do. But I agree its almost a compliment when it is put on a p2p site. I just hope people who do that will tell their friends how great the product is in those cases.
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  • Profile picture of the author embrown
    E-junkie has a PDF security system, which is still in beta, I believe.
    E-book security via PDF stamping (a DRM alternative)
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  • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
    For the OP - you seem sensible. Don't worry about ebook piracy. It's gonna happen, regardless of what you do. Your time is probably better spent creating yet another killer product to sell.

    BTW - if I buy a product that has printing disabled, it's INSTANT REFUND for me. Same with electronic activation schemes - if I can't put it on my desk computer and my laptop, then I don't want it. If I have to be hooked up to the net to read it, I don't want it.

    Allowing changes is another matter entirely. If you're still having problems with that, PM me and I'll walk you through it.


    Originally Posted by cbulen View Post

    Good info, subscribing
    STOP WITH THE MEANINGLESS ONE-LINER POSTS.

    Now you've made me guilty of it. Sheesh. If you're going to post, contribute, don't just type worthless banalities. Nobody cares if you're subscribing or not, and 'Good info' doesn't really add to the discussion.

    You're not just trying to get your post count up, are you?

    Nooooo...you wouldn't be doing that.
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