Preventing file fownload (any file even css and js) in IIS8 - iis

Is there any way to set up IIS in a way that no file can be downloaded? (without xml configuration and using the IIS UI only).
I know I can remove all mime-types but that is inconvenient, I'm looking for a better option.

You cannot stop of css or js as the server cannot differentiate between a normal
request and a download request when it comes to css or js.
Say you have a CSS or js included in your webpage any html page .This css file will need to be downloaded by the browser.So at server side(IIS) you cannot differentiate a normal download request or browser request. You can deny the download request if the referrer is not matching.For example if someone take sthe URL and directly copying and pasting it in another browser,the referrer header will not be present.Similarly if someone else hotlink to your resources(css,js files),you can stop that too.
By deny download based on Referrer using URLRewrite

Related

How to prevent users from browsing certain files of my website

I have recently launched a website on GoDaddy hosting. I have keept some images and JavaScript files used in website, in separate folders. I want to prevent the users from browsing those images and files by simply appending the folder and file name in the website URL. For example
www.example.com/images/logo.png
If I understand correctly, you want to have html file with images, that shouldn't be accessible alone? If yes, then it cannot be done. You can watch for correct HTTP Referrer header, but it can be simply faked and it also makes it inaccessible for browsers that don't send referrer or having sending it forbidden for "privacy" reasons.
If you want hide files to be accessible only by server side scripts, ftp/scp, then you can try to use .htaccess (if GoDaddy runs on Apache) and correct configuration: https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.2/howto/access.html
Another way could be hiding that files and creating one-shot token like this:
<img src=<?pseudocode GEN_TOKEN("file.jpg") ?> /> with another file serving these hidden files just for generated token, then deleting it from DB. Nevertheless, this will not protect anybody from downloading or accessing these files, if they want...
But, anyway, try to clarify your question better...
If you are keeping images/files in folder which is open to public, I guess you kept in that folder for purpose, you want public to access those images and files.
How public know images file name? Stop file content listing for your web site.
I am not aware which language you are using on web server, but in ASP.NET you may write module/ middle ware which can intercept in coming request and based on your logic (e.g. authentication and authorization) you can restrict access. All modern languages support this kind of functionality.

Prevent web brower cache file from being downloaded

My website has some of its files temporarly saved in the web browser cache.
Concerning CSS and images files, no problem but for some files it's a real security issue.
Is there a way to prevent some files from :
- being downloaded from the cache ?
- being visible in the cache ?
or crypt them maybe
Thanks.
David
Well you can configure your webserver so it sends certain http headers for certain file types such as javascript. For example for Apache web server we can use mod_expires module.
Another option is to add a random string to the end of each file that should not be cached by the web browser. for example the file script_name.js can be server as script_name.js?somerandomstring

HTAccess Open only to Website

To secure my site I placed blank htmls along with an htaccess file in every subdirectory but I didn't realize the denying all access would also mean denying access from the website itself. When I try to load a page, and it goes into the Images folder, the server responds with:
Failed to load resource: the server responded with a status of 403 (Forbidden)
So how do I change this htaccess code:
order allow,deny
deny from all
Options All -Indexes
To deny access to everything outside of the website, meaning the website itself can access its own content (images, js, css) but no one outside can.
You've already accomplished your stated goal, but obviously that's not really what you're after. Basically everybody that browses to your site is coming from outside and requesting assets from your server. When I request index.html, or any other page from your server, it doesn't send me a complete package as it were, with all of the page's assets wrapped up inside, it just sends me the text that comprises index.html. At that point the browser parses that and handles it accordingy; when it comes across an image tag that has a src on your server, it fires off a new request for that asset, and hopefully your server sends it back in response. [Yes, I realize that was all ridiculously simplified.]
As you've got things set up now, you're denying access to anybody and everybody that requests any assets from your server, which is why you're getting the 403 responses. So whatever it is you actually want to do is going to require a more tightly focused approach. I'll take a stab at it and guess that what you really want to do is prevent people from hot-linking your images?

How do I cache control?

How do I get my website to save images to clients computer and use them, not redownload them every page reload?
I tried to send header("Cache-Control: max-age=3600"); but that had no effect.
You'll need to sand caching headers for the image files, not for your HTML document. You can use the header function only if the files are actually served by a PHP script - not if they are static files handled by the web server. If they are static files, check the documentation for your web server of choice.
Also consider sending en Expires header, and disable ETags.

How to detect which content is not secured on mixed content SSL page.?

I've added a SSL certificate to an existing site, and now in IE I get a mixed content warning. Problem is, I don't know what's the non-secure content IE is warning me about. It's a simple html page, with a few Flash, a few images, a loaded CSS and JS.
How can I find out what's the non-secured content..?
Edit:
I found the culprit: it's the JS AC_RunActiveContent.js used to display Flash movie. So anyone has an idea on how to prevent SSL mixed content when using AC_RunActiveContent.js.?
This means that something is requesting content using the http protocol specifically, or you have an absolute path to an image or other content that begins with http instead of https.
A few tips: Use relative paths everywhere you can. If you must use an absolute path, and it's to a server you own, use https. If you're loading stuff from off your site, you're probably stuck with the mixed-content warning.
This also goes for your scripts, check out the JS, and the CSS template and make sure they're not the guilty parties - if they are change them to use relative paths, or to request items via https instead of http (assuming you're positive that the server they're referencing supports https, if it doesn't you're stuck).
There are a few other details, this might be helpful.
Ok, so here is the solution for my particular problem. It was the codebase value in my code that needed to be https as well (I didn't think it would trigger the warning, as my Flash were displaying correctly, oh well)...
AC_FL_RunContent( 'codebase','https://download.macromedia.com/pub/shoc...
Link to Adobe info on this: Security Information error in Internet Explorer
I use the Firefox console -- it reports the http resources it blocks from fetching on a mixed content page.
Search your source for http: only. Another great tool to help you out is Fiddler with which you can see what's getting downloaded upon requesting your page.

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