People directly downloading files
 

Is there a way to make it where people can't just copy and paste a link to one of my files in their address bar, an example would be someone has a direct link to a bunch of my files on their forums. Is there a way to make it so the only way you can access the file is if you are directed to it from my own site or a site that I choose from? Thanks for any help.

Yes there is, the same technique is also used against image hotlinking: Google

This should help :)

I found a nice little script over here that helps with this too.

Well my problem isn't hotlinking. If you go to this link All Halo 3 .map files - Halo 3 Modding you will see that a user on that site posted direct urls to my files. I already have my site hotlinked protected so they can't post direct links to files, so now what they are doing is telling everyone the link so anyone can copy and paste the link in the address bar to get direct access to my files. Is there a way to make it so in order to access any files in a directory you have to be direct by my site and my site only? Not just copy and paste the direct link to my files from their site forums to their address bar to get the file.

Good find buggabill

@robert: use a combination of htaccess and PHP. For instance, have the download link go to a PHP file that downloads the file from the .htaccess protected directory. This will stop people from being able to directly download your files.

Thanks a bunch Jim, buggabill & ETbyrne. I will give this a try.