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by lostgal

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My friend is a software consultant. He is currently implementing a software in the client side.Someone is trying to illegally try to take the source code. We don't mind giving this to them but they have to pay us.So now I want to now is there anywayhe can keep a log of files that are accessed from his computer and also prevent anyone from seeing those files.Enabling those files as hidden doesn't seem to help. Also this computer has a 98 os. So it would be nice if anyone could give me a practical solution for this.

13 replies

by saihib

Upgrade to Win2K or XP Pro and encrypt the files or use third party software to encrypt them if upgrading is out of the question.

by lostgal

We can't do that as we work ont he client side and they would also like to know why all of a sudden we want to upgrade it.As we don't have a proof for that it is nor possible to tell them about our hunch

by 20 + years still

If you go to NT 4.0 or higher you can use file system privledges to block unauthorized access. Another method would be to keep the source code off site and only bring the executables to your client site. You might also embed some piece of code that you can verify as being proprietary to your code. Unfortunaely short of encryption there are not many secure features in 98.

by ananthap

From what you say, it looks like someone is pulling the progs from another computer on the network. So in "98 os", just don't share your disk.

Remenber also that deletedfiles can be undeleted. What I would do in such an instance is to copy a small file onto the program file say "Foo.bar" which has just one line called deleted. Like so:

Copy Foo.bar MyProg.Prog
Del MyProg.Prog.

End of mail

Otherways which I reccommend:
(1) Pul

by tg2

does the software have to stay *on* that machine when your friend isn't there?

if not.. then look into a USB device / drive to store the source code on, if you need to compile it.. do so leaving the compiled code availalbe.. but take away the source files on the usb device.

Alternatively... there are applications you could purchase that encrypt data on the drive and could be installed with password protection.

Once your friend leaves the job site, reboot the machine without providingthe password to the encryption software, the PC will run as normal, however the encrypted files won't be readable.

Once the job is completed, and the customer has paid for the work, move the files from the *protected area* of the drive, and then uninstall the encryption software.

There should also be a dongle version of drive encryption software out there too.. ie. your friend would attach a USB, Serial, or Parallel Dongle (chip inside a plastic case that attaches to a port) and this would unlock the encrypted area while the dongle is attached..

etc etc etc.. many work arounds are available... the cost of them is where most people get stuck.

by jjubinv318

Real easy solution would be to install a "firewall". This can be set to not only completely block access by others but it can track who has accessed your computer.

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