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I’ve installed the Simple membership plugin, created two levels and everything seems fine. I’ve added a lot of PDF files to two pages on my website which only members have access to.
However, even though for each of the PDF files, I’ve clicked “Yes, Protect this content,” the PDF files can still be hotlinked as it’s entered into a URL bar.
I thought that the “Yes, Protect this Content” protected from hotlinking. Is there any way to protect from hotlinking, and if so, will the user be sent to a login screen to sign in so they can go to that link and read the PDF? Thanks.
Hi, can you provide more information for the following comment.
However, even though for each of the PDF files, I’ve clicked “Yes, Protect this content,” the PDF files can still be hotlinked as it’s entered into a URL bar.
With the plugin, when you load a PDF file into “Media,” the plugin includes a box at the bottom asking if you want to protest this content. It says:
“Do you want to protect this content?
No, Do not protect this content.
Yes, Protect this content.Select the membership level that can access this content:”
I click yes, but it doesn’t really protect it. You can still access the PDF link by hotlinking it and placing it in the URL bar to see the PDF.
Doesn’t the plugin protect against hotlinking? And if not, what is the plugin “protecting” the PDF file from?
Hi, I just carried out a test.
I added a pdf file to a post and protected that post and only allowed Gold Membership access. I went to a different browser and it does protect the content and the pdf file does not show up. So it does work for me.
What happens when you copy the PDF link and paste it directly into the URL bar? Can you see the PDF then?
Or does it ask you to login first, and then it takes you to the PDF? That’s what I’m looking for. Thanks.
Hi, now I know what you mean. The plugin will not protect a URL link.
But remember only members will download the PDF file from the protected page or post. You might want to use a plugin to control the number of downloads.
Well, I only ask since we have about 600 members, and on our old (Dreamweaver-created website), PDF links would be sent in the emails that would allow members to click on, and they would be taken to the particular page, asked to login, and then they could see the PDF.
Do you know if that’s even possible anyway on WordPress, even with another plugin? Thanks again.
Have you read about Form Builder Add-on?
Yes I have, although I’m not really sure what this has to do with preventing hotlinking. 🙂
And besides, all of our members are going to be registered automatically.
Yes I understand what you mean. However you did mentioned the following….
Well, I only ask since we have about 600 members, and on our old (Dreamweaver-created website), PDF links would be sent in the emails that would allow members to click on, and they would be taken to the particular page, asked to login, and then they could see the PDF.
The Form Builder Add-on allows you to add a URL link when submitting the form to a new member. In this page you can place your PDF file which will be added to a page. Then they can view or download the PDF file depending on how you set it up. You can even hide the page, so you don’t have to publish it on your website. This page can also be protected. That is the reason why I mentioned the add-0n which works flawlessly with this plugin since it is developed by the same developers 🙂
I’m afraid this wouldn’t work in my situation, since the PDF files are already on two separate pages with protections on them (Members and Executive).
If I can ask, when I’m in Media in WordPress and loading a file, what exactly does the plugin protect the file from when it says:
““Do you want to protect this content?
No, Do not protect this content.
Yes, Protect this content.”What exactly is this content protected from? I can’t see any different when I click “yes” on this.
When you add a file or content to a page or post the plugin protects all the content when you select Yes, Protect this content.”.
What this means is that anyone who does not belong to the membership level you selected will not be able to view the content.
But that’s the problem, that function doesn’t protect it, at least from hotlinking. I’ve tried several times to protect PDF files with “Yes, Protect this content,” but when I log out and then enter the URL of the PDF in a browser, it shows up.
Shouldn’t the PDFs be blocked form this kind of hotlinking?
Hi, currently the plugin only protects the content of a post or page. It does not protect any kind of hot linking like you say. In saying this the plugin is doing its job very well.
Regards
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