Photo Gallery Forums

Many gallery users wish to protect some of their images/folders from the public. We therefore get many requests if the gallery can or will support password protected gallery folders. We are certainly looking forward to integrate some password protection in a future release - However, there are a few misconceptions about password protection, so please allow me explain a few key issues -

# There is only one way to truly protect a folder or image on your webserver from being accessed. It consists of setting a file called .htaccess on your server, and Imagevue or any other web gallery does not have access to change this file.

# In a future release of Imagevue, we will be utilizing a password system that is native to Imagevue. This means, that without the correct password, viewers will not be able to see the images in a password protected folder. However, we will not be able to guarantee that the images in your passowrd protected folders are 100% safe, because the images will still be available outside the Imagevue gallery, but the chances of someone being able to 'sniff' out the path and name of an unknown image, are minimal.

# Another action some users should consider for image protection, is watermarking. It consists of creating an overlay(logo etc.) over an image, and allthough it doesnt ehance the picture in any way, it will protect your image from being used by 3rd parties. Its the only way to display your images to the public at relatively good quality, without having to risk infringement.

# An independant but related issue: Some consider the fact that their photos are displayed in flash(SWF) as added protection for their images, and they are right. When viewing an image through SWF, there is no way for a user to right-click and save the image to his desktop. However, this is certainly no true way of protection, because images are allways loaded into the viewers browser cache, and a smart user will know that and be able to access the images from his cache folder. There is no way to prevent this.

If anyone has any comments or suggestions regarding the integration of passwords and image protection in a future version of Imagevue, please post a reply to this topic!

I personally would like to see an option to protect "configuration overriding" in the URL. One can force every Gallery to enable Download even it's not enabled in the ini File.
for example

Hmm, good point. But keep in mind that it is semi-protection anyway.

I like the model of defining user access to different folders as it is implemented in LinPha

Password protected galleries is something I would definitely be interested in.

mjau-mjau wrote: # In a future release of Imagevue, we will be utilizing a password system that is native to Imagevue. This means, that without the correct password, viewers will not be able to see the images in a password protected folder. However, we will not be able to guarantee that the images in your passowrd protected folders are 100% safe, because the images will still be available outside the Imagevue gallery, but the chances of someone being able to 'sniff' out the path and name of an unknown image, are minimal.

When is the next release? I could really use this feature now.
Thanks!

joey wrote: When is the next release? I could really use this feature now.
Thanks!

Im sorry I can not give you any exact release date. All I know, is that it will be out this year, preferably sooner than later.

Any news yet about the password protection update ?

I would really like that feature ...

Anyway the gallery is beautifull and classy... Keep up the good work !!!

Yves

I would also like to know if there's an update on this password protected feature and shopping cart feature as well.

Thanks!

Any news on Any features?

cstevens wrote:Any news on Any features?

Good question !

some news?
or release date?

greets

How about password protecting pictures by group level - e.g. 1 picture is level 5, but the member has only level 4, he cant c the pictures with level 5. Or password protection by groups.
Also it would be good to have a registration system for the album so the members can register themselves, however the members will need approval to view the pictures. Also it would be nice to have a few additional fields like country/telephone number/email. A password reminder would be good too.

I think we are all missing something here, our wishes seem to be falling on deaf ears, I don't quite believe there is any development going on.

If there was there would have been a response, I mean when is the last time anything was officially said about a new release.....last year!

Hi -

I can understand your frustration, and I apologize for the infrequent replies in this forum.

Please also take into consideration that Imagevue only consists of more or less one or two persons. We are working towards en 'entirely' new version, which requires us to take some distance from the forum at times.

The original post here(my post) was meant as state of fact regarding how Imagevue would be able to work with passwords, and it still is. Discussing future features should be in the wishlist section: viewforum.php?f=10 . We are using the wishlist section extensively to find what features we think are feasible to integrate into the new release. I have also long time ago noted the suggestions regarding password protection, with user levels ....