CODEWITHSUNDEEP
htmlapachepdf
PKK
PKK

Reputation: 127

Disallow automatic download of pdf files

Is it possible to disable that pdf files aren't downloaded automatically to the temporary (or download) folders of a browser. I want to do this on the server side.

My problem is that there are a couple sensitive pdf files on the webserver. Many of the users aren't aware that, when viewing pdf files, they are saved locally to the computer.

Is there a (or different) solution?

Like embedding the pdf in HTML with some specific tags? Or creating the pdf with some specific (security) parameters?

Thanks regards Patrik

Upvotes: 0

Views: 3038

Answers (3)

Frank Rem
Frank Rem

Reputation: 3708

I agree with Eugene that the problem lies in the fact that the PDF is downloadable. If you want the user to be able to view the document but not be able to save it, then you may consider a solution such as this one: http://www.tallcomponents.com/livedemos/pdfwebviewer1-library/

Disclosure: I am affiliated with the company that sells this product.

Upvotes: 0

BZ1
BZ1

Reputation: 1322

A server can only suggest to the browser not to cache the files it is sending. A client may or many not follow those suggestions.

Recently, I wrote an article illustrating how to create a PDF web viewer using a Java applet. (NOTE: This applet uses PDF components from our product PDFOne (for Java).)

For your needs, you will have to modify the applet so that it downloads an encrypted PDF from the server, decrypts it on the client, displays it and when the user is finished with it deletes it.

Upvotes: 1

Eugene Mayevski 'Callback
Eugene Mayevski 'Callback

Reputation: 46040

If your PDF has an independent URL, you have no way to prevent downloading it. @KyleWpppd in his comment suggested a variant of using Flash plug-in for displaying PDF. This would work and would prevent saving by an average Joe, but not by a hacker of a good IT specialist. So the only more or less working (but not 100%) way would be to have some flash or other module which would communicate with the server and dynamically request the document on page by page basis. This is a complicated task and, as said, doesn't give a guarantee, but at least moves the stealing task much higher in complexity rating. So indeed, if you need 100% protection, - don't put the document to computer at all (as it can be copied).

Upvotes: 0

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