Prevent User From Copying .EXE File

[Scizzot]

Is it possible to prevent a user from copying an .exe file in Windows XP? I have a program that was supplied to my employer which is just an exe but I need to send a computer to a third party containing this program. The company that supplied the file does not want the third party to be able to copy the exe thus having it for their own use.

Is this something that is possible to accomplish? Any insight is much appreciated.

[sc302 Veteran]

yes and no. what is going to stop them from taking the hd out slaving it to their computer then copying the file over? while you can stop them from copying or buring on the computer you give them, unless you have a hard drive encryption utility there is nothing stopping them from taking the drive out, slaving it to their computer, and copying the file anyway or using a bart pe disk to copy it, or windows pe, or erd commander, etc.

my suggestion is if the 3rd party doesn't need the exe, delete it.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

If they need to run it, they need to access it. If they can access it, they can copy it.

I would suggest the developers or vendors secure their apps a bit better.

[sc302 Veteran]

  njlouch said:

If they need to run it, they need to access it. If they can access it, they can copy it.

this is not 100% true.

You can secure the desktop to not allow files to be copied off with a security software and you can encrypt the hard drive.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-v.../bitlocker.aspx

http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:OqHiS2...=clnk&gl=us

you can find free utilities to encrypt the hard drive. you can find other security packages that lock files like the ones I have listed and do a better job at a higher cost.

It can be done, it has been done, it will continue to be done.

[dmd3x]

If you mount the filesystem while booted into an alternate OS (such as one of the various recovery Linux distros) you can often gain full access to all the files. Like mentioned by other posters, encryption is a great way to prevent this - especially if you encrypt your entire disk.