Hotlinking

[nochicktrix]

I have a problem with hotlinkers. I don't mind them downloading the videos. But the bandwidth is getting mighty expensive. How can I prevent them from hotlinking, while allowing downloads?

[Dave Swift]

You can prevent hotlinking and allow downloading using htaccess:


RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^$
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://yourwebspace.com/.*$ [NC]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_REFERER} !^http://www.yourwebspace.com/.*$ [NC]
RewriteRule .*\.gif$ - [G]


Copy and paste the above code into a blank file (you can use Notepad for this.) You then save this file as exactly .htaccess

Then place the .htaccess file in the same directory as your videos.

*NOTE: Be sure to replace yourwebspace.com and www.yourwebspace.com with the URL of your webspace.

[nochicktrix]

It looks great! I'm a "newbie" at this. Where do I put this in my codes? Each time I add a movie/picture/etc...? Thanks bunches for replying!

[Dave Swift]

The first thing you have to do is establish that your webhost supports Server Side.

So, what webhost do you have?

[Dave Swift]

So your server support Server Side Scripting.

That's good.

Now, it is your site's videos which you want to stop people linking to, isn't it?

If so, post the URL(s) of the directory(ies) that you keep your videos in.

i.e: http://www.nochicktrix.com/videos

[Dave Swift]

I've just read your lastest email - and don't worry if you are confused.

Server Side is very complicated and I'm only just at novice level myself.

But I'm sure that you'll soon catch on - good luck with your site and welcome to the forums!

[whkoh]

Your site will have to support HTACCESS. The tutorial is here (http://www.perlaccess.com/tutorials/8/8.6.html).

[drivle]

Excuse me - I am not familiar with the term hotlinking.
Could someone please explain?
Thanks.

[Dave Swift]

Hotlinking is basically linking to an image/video/sound clip, etc on someone else's server/webspace.

So it is like getting someone else to pay for your webspace.

And example of this is, if I have an account with Geocities and I use images stored on my Tripod webspace, then that is hotlinking, and it costs Tripod.

[Jason]

More on the specifics of hotlinking:
http://123webmaster.com/Onsite/Management/WebhostRedFlags.html