I've been trying to develope a security ruitine for flash based content but alas the elusive action script has kicked my ass.

Any one here know of a way for an SWF file to detect the address of the html page where the file itself is embbed on?

Basically what Im trying to do is a method of security where at a certain frame in the movie (perhaps 30 seconds into the cartoon)Flash will detect the URL of the page that contains it. It will then compare that url to the URL where its is supposed to be placed on such as "http:/flashfilmmaker.com/liscenced_movie.htm". If it matches then it will continue to play until the cartoon is over without the user knowing what happened.

However if the URL does not match(such as in the case someone is stealing your file and your bandwidth by embedding the file on their page or perhaps trying to view the cached version directly form their hardrive) it will jump to a hidden scene that will thank them for their interest in the movie but if they would like to finish watching the rest of it to log on to the web and view the cartoon from the propper liscensed distributors website.

I dont want to mess with preventing browser caching, or detecting external variables, or fooling around with my sites structure. I just plain want to detect the url of the HTML page and have it compared to the propper address where the file is supposed to be.

Personally I feel this method is provably the best method for swf security because the only way for a hacker to mess with it is to decompile it in binary form. But that will often just ruin the file so it wouldnt matter.

Another advange to this method would be that if a user grabs the file from their cache they will only see a preview (perhaps the first 30 seconds) after the security check kicks in they will have to log on to your site to watch the entire file. (more traffic for your site or liscensed distributor)

P.S. If you can make a qick FLA with demostration the action script that would rock! But any suggestions are welcomed. If you do make a fla send it to [email protected] - thanks again.

[Edited by Ibis Fernandez on 08-10-2001 at 03:09 PM]