Why Password Protect Archives?

I mean other than the reason to cause inconvenience for people?

Posting the links makes them public, so its not like they’re protection against the public.
And passwords are just as easily copied as the links themselves, so I don’t see it being an effective means against hot linkers.

Why do people bother with passwords?

Because to me its like a door, and a locked door with the key already in it. Practically the same thing, except one is a bit more inconvenient than the other.

Because it’s harder for people to steal links that way.

Why not? Instead of getting digital versions, why not go and buy the actual CD/DVD/whatever?

If a file is uploaded to a file sharing site like Rapidshare or Megaupload or whatever else, the owner of the server is unable to see what’s inside a compressed and password-protected file and thus can’t delete it saying there’s an illegal content inside.

Also the fact that there are search engines on the net that specifically search through file hosting sites. If you upload something to megaupload any random joe on the internet can find it regardless if you ever posted a link to it. If it’s something personal or important and you don’t want random joe to see what’s inside, then you put the password on it and personally give the pass to whoever you want to.

Also the fact that there are search engines on the net that specifically search through file hosting sites. If you upload something to megaupload any random joe on the internet can find it regardless if you ever posted a link to it. If it’s something personal or important and you don’t want random joe to see what’s inside, then you put the password on it and personally give the pass to whoever you want to. I understand if its personal content, not on this forum with hundreds of OSTs made public.

Why not? Instead of getting digital versions, why not go and buy the actual CD/DVD/whatever? So passwords are their way of saying "Buy this thing instead of taking it from me even though I’m providing it to everyone for free" ?

Because it’s harder for people to steal links that way.
Like I said, passwords can be copied too.

If a file is uploaded to a file sharing site like Rapidshare or Megaupload or whatever else, the owner of the server is unable to see what’s inside a compressed and password-protected file and thus can’t delete it saying there’s an illegal content inside.I can see how this makes sense.

So passwords are their way of saying "Buy this thing instead of taking it from me even though I’m providing it to everyone for free" ?

I wasn’t just saying about the passwords… I was saying about the whole uploading of OST’s etc online then giving them away for free. Buy the damn CD/DVD/Whatever instead of looking around online for some person saying "Here, I ripped this CD/DVD/etc… have it for free!"

Go and buy it, then if you want to, rip it. Keep the original somewhere safe, in case your PC’s HD gets corrupted or you get a virus which destroys your computer. Then you can rip it again, without having to search online again.

That and I don’t like the poor quality of some of the OST’s rips.

afaik its about the file sites not being able to casually browse the contents of the file. makes the links last a tad bit longer.

afaik its about the file sites not being able to casually browse the contents of the file. makes the links last a tad bit longer.

Precisely.

What’s more inconvenient? Having to enter a password or a broken link?

so u know who did the rip.

there is no other reason really.