Someone can hack my shared link to download the pdf file that has been disabled download permission

[ydeniro]

Hi,

Recently, I sent a shared link of one pdf file of mine to someone.  When I created this shared link, I have disabled the download permission for this file.  However, the guy told me that he has found out a way to hack the link and been able to download my pdf file anyway.  But he just didn't want to tell me how he did so.  

I just wonder if there is any way you are aware of out there the people can do so to the shared link file with download permission disabled?  I googled around and saw some discussion on Reddit talking about this by inspecting into the source code of the dropbox page.  

Is this a way to work this around?  If so, how to resolve this matter.  This becomes an urgent issue for me now. 

Thanks!

Yang

[Rich]

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@ydeniro wrote:

I googled around and saw some discussion on Reddit talking about this by inspecting into the source code of the dropbox page.

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The simple fact is that if you can view something online, it can be downloaded. That's just how the Internet works. In fact, in order to be able to view anything online, it's downloaded to your computer (stored in your browser's cache), so there really is no way of stopping it completely. There will always be ways around it.