Hiding your source code(website)

[Roof Jumper]

How do you hide your source code from "courious" people.

[Ebola]

why do you care. i hate it when people put in the javascript code that doesnt let you right click. hence I wont go to site like this.

if your really interested go to http://javascript.internet.com

I'm sure its there.

[Bmxpunk86pl]

The thing is, is when u have that javascript that doesn't let you right click, you can still go to view and then source. Also if someone really, really wanted to see ur source, they cant be stopped. Best thing to do is to pull the plug.

[Cooler666]

there's no way not to see the source

just make sure you copyright your website, that'll take care of it :cool:

[_Will_]

well you can always use pseudo-encryption (aka making code that runs around in circles so much people won't bother to try to understand it unless they're incredably bored)

[JigPu]

Here's a source code encrypter....

http://www.dynamicdrive.com/dynamicindex9/encrypter.htm

Just throw in your code, and click encrypt. Everything will look as gross as you can get it.

JigPu

[XWRed1]

It would probably be better described as a code obfuscator.

Even then, I don't see why that would stop anyone from taking your html. Is your html that awesome anyways? If it is, you should be proud to show it off.

[adovbs]

A lot of the sites you may *think* have their code "hidden" in fact just have about 50 or 100 blank lines at the beginning of the web document. If you scroll on down that apparently "blank" file, suddenly you'll notice - hey, there's code there after all!

;-)

Adovbs

Other than that, not much you can do (at least not to my knowledge) except what's already been posted, and that's sure not fool proof.

[Burning Phoenix]

You can use PHP to write your html.
I use the javascript which doesn't allow right clicking but there are ways to get around it for more experienced html users. It does slow down most who try to steal your graphics though. I have the very short script if you wish.

[XWRed1]

Really, who cares, the whole idea is assinine.

Writing php in lieu of being able to conceal html is silly, you're doing more work for no reason, you still need to send html to the browser.

[adovbs]

Writing php in lieu of being able to conceal html is silly, you're doing more work for no reason, you still need to send html to the browser.
Exactly.

The only way this would even be useful at all is if you had some kind of proprietary business logic that you didn't want exposed to prying eyes, so you did all the computations server side and just served up the result, instead of using something more client side like inline javascript. Now that I can see being worth the added effort, but not just a normal web page.

Adovbs

[UnseenMenace]

While there is software around that can download a complete site which then can be viewed at your own pace and the souce code can be read using notepad.. it does seem a little pointless and the effort could be better used in making a nicer site

[RadicalBender]

Originally posted by adovbs
A lot of the sites you may *think* have their code "hidden" in fact just have about 50 or 100 blank lines at the beginning of the web document. If you scroll on down that apparently "blank" file, suddenly you'll notice - hey, there's code there after all!

Yeah, most of the time, that's just where the PHP (or ASP or CF) code that doesn't get passed to the browser is at.

Other than that, not much you can do (at least not to my knowledge) except what's already been posted, and that's sure not fool proof.

There isn't anything. Lots of people try, but there's nothing fool-proof. If all else fails, I can telnet to a server on port 80 and pull the raw code that way. :)

Oh, same with images, too. Lots of people try to block those and it's just not possible.

--Ben

[Beelzebub]

I don't see how it would be possible to prevent people from stealing images. All those things go to the browser cache anyway.

That is, unless there is a way to prevent it :rolleyes:

[XWRed1]

You could make a java applet and use that to show images.... but that would be lame, and make me not want to visit your page.

[Beelzebub]

Talk about going to extremes. If your graphics are so important that you don't want people on the Internet to get them, then ummm... don't post them on the Internet :D

[RadicalBender]

Here's an article that goes through every option in what people try to do to protect images (and how no method works effectively):

http://www.evolt.org/article/Thwarting_Image_Theft_Fact_or_Fiction/25/3094/index.html

--Ben

[Crash893]

why not just make tumb nails of you picture that are reallllly realllllllly tiney so if some one wants a real one they have to contact you

[Matthew1001]

The no right click script is farely annoying sometimes although once or twice while making websites I have come upon things in scripts that I didn't want people to see. I forget what reason. It is annoying when people have no right click just so you cannot save the pictures from the site. There is a way around that though.

[SpeedFreak]

Do it in flash, that hides most everything...

[XWRed1]

Yea, it hides it especially well from people who can't even use flash.

[designwolf]

There are lots of ways to hide code, none of them, with the exception of full encryption that actually succede. I water mark my images, and only upload those watermarked images. That way if someone does (rarely happens) want an image I've created they have to contact me, because the download they get comes up with CREATED BY ************ ON **/**/**** FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY across the entire face of the image, and you can't get that out because that's part of the image I leave on the web.

The only other real option is to folder and encrypt your entire site using calls for all info on the site. While this method does tend to keep your scripts from being lifted, it's not foolproof either.

The thing is this. It seems like people are upset that developers and designers block access to their work. I either work my rear off, or have paid to have a script, or code, or some other interesting item, device, image or file on a site I have produced. I sell my pictures to pay my bills, so why should I or any designer feel guilty about protecting our WORK? Just beause it's on display doesn't mean we want you to take it. That would be like walking into an art gallery, seeing the Mona Lisa, and deciding that you own it now, and walking out with it. You're not gonna get too far.

I also don't think folks would like it if I came to their place of business, and took what I wanted, and left without paying. No, in fact, they'd call the police, have me arrested, and prosecuted, and call me a pathetic weasle with no character and no desire to work.

Folks, when you go to a site with copyrighted material, or images that you like, ask or pay for them, don't just take them. When you do, you are taking without compensating me for the effort it takes to create something you like in the first place!

Now a days, I include code in my image marks that can track where my images are, and recently I've taken to locating those images and advising the offending party that I own the copyright, and will persue the issue. It's sad that I've had to make that effort, but what choice have you left me?

Now, don't be offended, I'm not accusing anyone here of anything, I'm just making a point.

:rolleyes:

[flounder43]

If you really want to protect it, just claim a copyright. This is done by writing "© 2002 John Doe Overclocker", or "Copyright 2002 John Doe Overclocker".

[XWRed1]

So do your watermarks show up in all the images on a web page when someone views the page?

Because.. uh... if they don't... then I can just steal those.

[designwolf]

If you are really determined to have the pics that I use on my website, be aware that all the images, in addition to watermarks, and tracking code, and in fact, copyrighted by a legal entity... (since I can't use the name of my business here, or my url) just know that I have the ability to track, locate and protect my images, just as you probably do as well. But, for the sake of your point, you'll just steal those, have at it, the quality sucks, they don't show up very well, and they are signifigantly modified so as to make them generally unappealing.

But if that floats your boat, then sail away my fellow oc denzin, and enjoy the veiw

:burn:

[XWRed1]

Well, I'm just asking about how your web art turns out. I mean, it seems like it might be a bad idea to go to so much effort trying to protect your images with watermarks or putting your name on it or whatever that they all look like crap in a web page.

Thats all I'm asking for. I only have a vague sense of what a watermark is or how it works. It'd be nice if you explained it to me too.

[flounder43]

There is some very interesting technology that uses digital watermarks. You cannot really see them because they are encoded as part of the picture.

[XWRed1]

And so they don't really stop me from stealing anything, do they? They only make it easier for the owner to blow the whistle on me.