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andy12

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 30, 2010
10
0
I am sure this is a simple question to a lot of you. Is there any way to make a file and/or folder unable to be copied. By that I mean could I create a folder that is on a external that can be viewed and used but unable to be removed from the external without a password? Thanks.
 
Copying is a read process, so you can't restrict the process of just copying a file or folder.

But you can restrict read rights with the help of the Sharing & Permissions tab of the Get Info window of your folder. But if you are the user of that computer, anyone using the same user will have the same rights.

So you might be smegged.

Maybe change your thread title to something more specific and descriptive like "How to protect a folder from being copied, but still be readable?", as I was expecting some picture thread off of your thread title.

To edit your thread title, just click on the
edit.gif
button on the bottom right of your original post and then click the "Go Advanced" button below your message.Have you also taken a look at MRoogle,since that question may have been asked several times?
 
Thanks for your reply. I have been spending a bit of time looking on MRoogle. First time I have ever used it. Pretty cool. Thanks again
 
I read your question when you first posted, but I didn't respond
I have been thinking about your challenge, and for the life of me, I can't think of a solution that meets your criteria

Hopefully there will be someone with more expertise to come along
I just didn't want you think you were being ignored
People may not be posting just because they don't have a solution either
 
SOLUTION: your file system has to be NTFS, say you want to do it on a USB drive...
1.- if it isn't NTFS, format so it is
2.- create a folder
3.- put the files you want to be read but not copied in the folder
4.- create chortcut of all the files inside the folder, and put these in the root directory or wherever you want them to be inside the USB.
5.- edit the folder's permitions where you have the original files
---- deny: show folder's content
---- deny: write
6.- apply these changes to "everyone"

*now you can read the files using the shortcuts, but not copy, if you copy you will only have an empty shortcut
*the folder will not show its content
*the folder cannot be modified (not even the permitions, only if it is done be the admin)
*the folder cannot be deleted
*the folder cannot be copied

sorry for my writing and misspelling english isn't my native langage
 
SOLUTION: your file system has to be NTFS, say you want to do it on a USB drive...
1.- if it isn't NTFS, format so it is
2.- create a folder
3.- put the files you want to be read but not copied in the folder
4.- create chortcut of all the files inside the folder, and put these in the root directory or wherever you want them to be inside the USB.
5.- edit the folder's permitions where you have the original files
---- deny: show folder's content
---- deny: write
6.- apply these changes to "everyone"

*now you can read the files using the shortcuts, but not copy, if you copy you will only have an empty shortcut
*the folder will not show its content
*the folder cannot be modified (not even the permitions, only if it is done be the admin)
*the folder cannot be deleted
*the folder cannot be copied

sorry for my writing and misspelling english isn't my native langage
How does that prevent somebody from reading a file in, say, a binary-compatible text editor and then saving it somewhere else, thereby making a copy? What if you read the files with a small Python script that automates writing a copy of all the "protected" files somewhere else? The original question is like "how can I allow and not allow reading some data at the same time", and that sounds pretty impossible.
 
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