I am trying to find a utility that will let me distribute a file like
a .pdf or a .zip file and that will automatically delete itself after
a certain number of uses or days.

Example, I have a .pdf file that I want my customer to only open and print once.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pwizard-ga on 26 Mar 2003 14:27 PST

There is a software company that offers the solution that you are
looking for, however it is not free. There are also different versions
of the software, depending on how you wish to distribute these
self-destructing files. Because certain measures have to be taken to
be sure that your restrictions are adhered to, any type of viable
solution will require a sort of verification method be in place on the
receiver's computer. Otherwise, you would run into problems such as
the user simply making a copy of the file, opening it up, it
self-destructing, making another copy and so on.

If this sounds like what you would be interested in, let me know and
I'll provide you will all the info in answer format. Otherwise, if
you're looking for a free or shareware type of program, I didn't find
anything that will give you the type of control that you'd want, but
another researcher might have better luck.

-PWizard
Google Answers Researcher

---

Clarification of Question by logisnews-ga on 26 Mar 2003 15:20 PST

Thanks for the response -- yes there is a company that has what I"m
looking for called "fileopen" www.fileopen.com and their package runs
$2500 dollars to encrypt .pdf's so that they can only be opened a
limited number of times, etc.  I'm looking more for something that is
at most a couple of hundred dollars. I'm kindof surprised that there's
no ready (cheap) solution for such a universal need.  Thanks.

---

Request for Question Clarification by pwizard-ga on 02 Apr 2003 12:32 PST

Greetings logisnews,

I was curious if you had a chance to take a look at the InTether
software that I mentioned in my comments and/or if it worked for you?
I would like to submit it as an offical answer so that the question
can be closed if it satisfies your needs. Otherwise, myself or another
researcher can continue looking for another alternative, but I
personally haven't seen anything less expensive with the same amount
of options. If you could just let us know either way.

Thanks,
PWizard

Greetings logisnews,

The company that I found is called Infraworks and the name of the
product is InTether. It comes in several different flavors (Server,
Desktop, SecureCD) but starts out at a much lower price than the one
that you mentioned in your clarification. The desktop version starts
at $270.

I believe that the InTether Desktop product would probably suit your
needs as it's used to secure and place restrictions on files sent via
email. Here's some brief info:

"By deploying InTether Desktop, you gain complete control over the
access, distribution and use of your most critical business
information in email form.  InTether Desktop enables you to secure
digital files from the time they are created until the time they are
deleted, even while the files are in use by others."

"With InTether, users control precisely who will receive the digital
file, what the recipients can do with it, and how long they can access
it."

"Unlike other proprietary digital file security solutions, InTether
Desktop enables users to create, secure, and distribute digital files
and data in their original file format (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
etc.)."

"With InTether, you control exactly to whom the file goes, what may be
done with the file’s content, and when the file will self-destruct.
This is done in two stages. First, the sender determines which file he
or she wants to package. For example, a Word document or an Excel
spreadsheet. Second, the sender chooses to apply one or several
permissions.

And with InTether Desktop — unlike PKI — there are no keys to manage,
and no keys others can steal!"

If you manage a website or want users to be able to "download" these
files, you may have to go with their InTether Server version that is
designed for web server deployment of the secure files. They also
offer the SecureCD version if you want to deploy your files on CDs for
your clients.

They offer a free 30-day trial of the InTether Desktop product which I
would encourage you to try out and see if it will work for you. For
what I can tell, the end-user needs to simply download the free
"InTether Receiver" program in order to access the files that you
create and send. This prevents misuse of the files and the
copy/run/copy process that I described in my first clarification.

Below are the links to the website where you can read all about it and
download the free trial if you like. If this product works for you,
please let me know so that I can turn this into an official answer.
Otherwise, no harm done and at least you have one more product to
think about. Then, perhaps another researcher can assist you with
another alternative.

Infraworks Website
http://www.infraworks.com/

InTether Desktop
http://www.infraworks.com/it_desktop.htm

InTether Desktop Free Trial Download
http://www.infraworks.com/downloadDesktop.htm

Good luck!

Sincerely,
PWizard
Google Answers Researcher

I just want to put out a strong word of caution.... "InTether" secured
files and CDs would not be allowed into most corporations with a
living, breathing IT department, and virtually no branch of
government... the security risk involved with running applications
that will delete files without the consent of users is too great, and
Microsoft's "WinLogo" testing helps weed these applications out for
such organizations. DRM-enabled software is a far more viable
option.... and to be honest, if what you are distributing is worth the
restrictions you wish to place on it, it is probably worth the
investment to go with software like "fileopen".