Protect your downloads – Protect your Income
Digital theft is very prevalent these days. The main reason for this is that it is extremely easy to download a product illegally, unless it is protected well. The good news is that it only requires a few simple steps to ensure protection of your downloads. These are listed below.
Zip your PDF eBooks
The biggest problem arises when sellers store their downloads as PDF documents, as is the case for eBooks. You would know that Google, Altavista and many other search engines can read and list PDF files.
Besides, Google also converts your PDF files into HTML documents. So ordinary browsers not only have access to your PDF file, but they can download your Source File as well. The next logical step is for them to customize it with their own links, compile it and sell it or give it away.
A simple way of keeping your files out of the reach of spiders is to upload them as a zip file. Search engines cannot look inside zip files and list their contents.
Create an Index.html file
You must have an index.html file in EVERY folder. It acts like a curtain that keeps your eBooks away from prying eyes. A folder without an index file is like a house without walls. Everyone can enter and help themselves to the valuables.
The 'index.htm' file is the default file that opens when you click on a link for the eBook. If you don't create an index.htm or index.html file, you'd be allowing everyone to directly access the root directory of the folder where you store your downloads. All eBooks stored in a folder without an Index.html file may be visible and ready to download without authorization.
Use Simple Scripts
You can use a simple script to redirect prying eyes back to your home page. Here's the easiest way to do it using what it called a "meta refresh tag." Add it between the Header tags like this.
<head>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="refresh" content="0;URL=http://yoururl.com">
</head>
Just paste this code into the head of your document (before your text).
Spider-proof your download page
To prevent search engine spiders from reading and listing the download pages that link to your eBooks add the tag below in the head of the document.
This "Robot" tag tells the spider that this page is not to be spidered or indexed. As a result it should never show up on a search.
<head>
<META NAME="ROBOTS" CONTENT="NOINDEX, NOFOLLOW">
</head>
Frequently change your download links
To prevent unscrupulous people from posting your download links on forums or message boards, change the folder or file name where you store them from time to time, even if it means having to change the download links in your merchant account.
Using these methods will give you a good degree of satisfaction, knowing that you have taken the most basic steps to protect your eBooks - and at absolutely no cost to you.
