To make File Write Protected using WIN32

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

Hi..

Can anyone tell me that, How to make a file as write Protected Programmatically using WIN32.
I have created the file like this:

C++

HANDLE hFile = CreateFile("E:\\FileName.txt", GENERIC_READ,FILE_SHARE_DELETE|FILE_SHARE_READ|FILE_SHARE_WRITE,0,OPEN_ALWAYS, FILE_ATTRIBUTE_READONLY, 0);

After creating a file, When i try to copy that file to other location, It should not copy.. Please sugest me..!

Thanks in Advance.

Is there any way to make it Programmatically with out using User Account Control Features.. ??

Posted 11-Mar-12 21:24pm

Guru_C++

Updated 11-Mar-12 23:15pm

Nelek

v4

Add a Solution

Comments

perilbrain 12-Mar-12 4:45am

I dont think you can stop a file from being copied without putting a watcher on it...
Write Protected implies the file is readonly and you cant change it, it has nothing to take from whether it is being copied or not....

Nelek 12-Mar-12 5:15am

Edit: Answer from OP added here

3 solutions

Solution 3

So I came to understand from your previous question that you want your file to restrict it from being copied.
If I talk like a hacker I will say there is no way to do it :(
Explaination:-
1. ACL Protection work with windows, however I can run Linux and copy it out easily.
2.Any process running with high privilege with that of File itself,is able to copy that file.

Workaround for (2.):-
You can write a service for locking that file and stop it from being copied.
Like the way antiviruses do ..
You can research with these links and can check out if there is anyother way to do it... http://stackoverflow.com/questions/853805/locking-files-using-c-on-windows[^]
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa365203(v=vs.85).aspx[^]

Posted 11-Mar-12 23:23pm

perilbrain

Comments

Mohibur Rashid 14-Mar-12 3:16am

I agree with your number two point. but not with number one
About security issue I disagree with you.

First thing on about security is physical security. if you user can remove the hard-disk form the system and run under linux or if simply user put a bootable CD and boot operating system then there is no security at all.

If you have physical access to any linux system you dont need to log in to change the password of the system

Solution 4

Computers work by copying data from a memory location into another, and another and another.
If you have data you don't want to be copied ... don't store them on computers.
(and let people use copy machines ...)

If your problem is to protected the DATA (not the file ...) from being somehow stolen then encrypt the data in a way you only can decrypt them. At that point, copying the file itself will be clueless.

Posted 13-Mar-12 10:52am

Emilio Garavaglia

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

Richard MacCutchan · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-11T22:52:00

Solution 1

You have made your file read only but that means that anyone can read (and copy) it. If you want it to be totally protected then you must use the User Account Control features to secure it.

Posted 11-Mar-12 22:52pm

Richard MacCutchan

Comments

Guru_C++ 12-Mar-12 5:00am

Is there any way to make it Programmatically with out using User Account Control Features..

Chandrasekharan P 12-Mar-12 5:08am

Request you to delete your question which you have posted as Solution 2

Nelek 12-Mar-12 5:14am

As long as the file is opened, if you use "CFile::shareExclusive" then you can get a bit more protection than you have. But... once the file is closed another time, there will still be possible to copy it, move it or whatever.

Richard MacCutchan 12-Mar-12 5:26am

Not that I am aware of. Basic file attributes do not provide any useful file protection.

Guru_C++ 12-Mar-12 5:37am

Yes.. Ur right.. In basic file attributes we don't have such options.