How to hide folders or files on cd/dvd

I was not aware that you can hide any data on a dvd...for long
If you use a program like Vobcopy you can read/copy most anything off a dvd. There are many such applications, and most of the protection software out there relies on windows. So if you place that dvd in a linux machine, the files are easily retrieved. Here is the basics on how MarcoVision and others protect DVD's and Cd-Roms currently: http://macrovision.com/products/safedisc/SafeDiscA_CP.shtml http://macrovision.com/products/ripguard/index.shtml
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/13/macrovision_drm/
http://macrovision.com/products/safedisc/index.shtml http://macrovision.com/products/safedisc/SafeDiscA_AHP.shtml

Again, all these protections fail in a linux machine, or if you are able to use a driver or cd-rom that the protection software is unaware of, and usually turning off auto-run on windows would fix most of this. Nero surprisingly makes great copies of "protected" cd's so you can make a usable back-up of your data, that you are entitled to one back-up of this data.

There are ton's of protection software out there for windows dvd's... http://www.drmwatch.com/drmtech/

Info on DRM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management
http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2001/01/10/everything_you_ever_wanted/
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_mediacenter_copy.asp

Perhaps you can write to the manufactor's of the DVD and see if they will let you know who they let make the dvd for them, or what they used. Chances are that info will be on the NET somwhere...
-rich

Hi Rich,

I'm afraid you didn't understand my problem. I am not interested in digital rights management and protecting my dvd from being copied. I don't care if it's copied, really. I just want to hide some files on a dvd and still be able to access them through a protected html file on that same dvd.

Thanks anyway for your thoughts on this.

Arie

My contention is that they can be read, and are never (truly) hidden. however, I do not know how to go about the protection you describe... If you would, let us know what CD/DVD you had in your possesion that demonstrated this, perhaps we can get some info from the maker...
-rich

It was an audio cd. I'll have to look for it.

The reason that CryptCD doesn't work for me is that all protected files are copied to a temp directory when you open them in an explorer like browser. I just need a way around this, or a way that unhides the content of the dvd after given the right password.

without reading others posts (sorry if any overlap) --

The only way to "hide" data on CD or DVD is to use NON_STANDARD FORMATTING.

If the format of the track is "normal", you CANNOT HIDE IT.

All these "hiding" strategies use non-standard track formats that don't comply with CD/DVD standards.

You put an EXE file on the CD/DVD that looks at specific tracks which you must hard-code into the EXE, and it decrypts the data from the non-standard tracks using special decrypt algorithms.

This is the ONLY way to do it -- we investigated this for a major -- so if you want to use it, go ahead, but you are succumbing to the same paranoia they have.

Don't you realize that anyone who views an HTML file can IMMEDIATELY view the source and copy it????
WHat you are really asking is -- can I stop anyone from copying my HTML source??

The answer is 100 times 100 times -- NO NO NO !!!  It is impossible.

Thanks Sciwriter, but my html file is password protected and encrypted. So people can't view the source.

Let's put my question differently.

I have two sets of data. The first set has to be protected: a html file with links to various program files. The second set of files is public. I now want to burn these sets on a cd or dvd.

The question is: how do I protect the first set of files while maintaining the possibility to access the program files through the html file?

If there is no other way then to hide the set in an encrypted single file, then there may be a way to program the html file so that the links still work. If not with a html file, than with powerpoint or another software that can combine text, pictures and links.

P.S. The Audio CD I mentioned earlier was from Britney Spears (belongs to my sister ;-). All the cda files are invisible. The extra material (videos etcetera) was visible. Maybe this had something to do with the non-standard track formats Sciwriter talked about. On the internet I found some specific audio burning software that can do the trick (http://www.cdman.com/technical/enhanced.html), but I don't want to hide audio files...

Arie

http://www.sunncomm.com/Brochure/SunncommCover.htm This was the software that protected The Spears cd...
http://www.immediatek.com This also looks like good sotfware..

BeastieBoys Cd was, macrovision
Macromedia director based 'Enhanced CD' software
-rich

Why not just name the hidden directory with a "$" at the end of it?  It is still there, and you can get to it if you know the path via the command line, but it just stops people from browsing to it.

For example:

D:\hidden$\new_folder

is accessed by going to "start" and "run" and typing d:\hidden\new_folder

But, you won't see it via a browse.  Also, it's not a "." hidden file so it won't show up in a "show hidden" dir listing.

Oh, and name the directory something really hard to guess, like f8073kms83jd, so someone can't just randomly figure it out.

Hi durindil,

That sounds interesting. But how do I hide the directory on my cd/dvd? That's the problem in the first place.

PS Rich, the software you found is really professional. I can't even download it to try. Therefor I think it must be very expensive. The MediaMax solution sounds promissing though, due to the fact that "Regions on the disc that are marked as being protected are inaccessible by any software on the computer". Still I consider this overkill for my problem. Thanks anyhow!

Arie

Sorry, I was thinking of file shares that end with the "$" character.  The equivalent for local folders is to select the "hidden" attribute, which can be seen by others with "show hidden files and folders."

The only software I have used like you are talking about is Folder Guard http://www.winability.com/folderguard/hide-folders.htm but I have NOT used it on a CD or DVD.  That means that I don't know if it has to run as a service to hide the folders, therefore not useful on a CD or DVD.

Hi Durindil,

You've guessed right. I've tried many of these programs like Folder Guard, Folder Protection and HideFoldersXP. All these need to be running when decrypting files on a cd/dvd. Sadly...

Hi all,

I think I might have found the answer: encryptX SecurDataStor
I found it on http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=89284

The thing is that the webpage of EncryptX is down. So I can't test the software. It's promissing though: "Create encrypted web CDs that decrypt and launch a browser on the fly." and "Hide encrypted folders and share sensitive data with recipients who can view decrypted files without having the software installed."

If anyone already has tried the program I'd be glad to hear about it. Now I just have to wait till the server is up again.

Arie

http://www.tucows.com/preview/336353.html
http://www.soft32.com/download_18631.html
-rich

Thanks Rich, but I've tried all these possibilities in vain. Most of these sites refer directly to excryptX.com (down as I said). Tucows does give a download, but it's only 56 KB and not working. Someone knows where I can download the latest evaluation version (6.3) of SecurDataStor Professional or Premium (a version that is working)? That one will be rewarded the 500 points!

Have found the trial version of SecurDataStor 6.3. This software rocks! Does all the things I need.

I also found DriveCrypt 4.2 (http://www.securstar.com). Isn't as good as the SecurDataStor, but if anybody will try it, go ahead.

none from me.
-rich