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No. You have to chop it up.
dilemma is to create only 1 video file -stored at hard disk or cloud) can be normally viewed partially as well as in full only with a password etc
No because it wouldn't be a video anymore. You would need to create your own file format and application to read that thing.
Also why? It seems like a very limited use case and I don't know any scenario where I would need that. No one encrypts videos except for those (idiots) who distribute movies in the theaters or on Blu-ray.
I'd like to do the following: for the first 15 minutes, I want to play the video normally and then either not show the rest or display a frozen image instead.
I occasionally encounter corrupted videos that only show certain parts and not the entire content.
I was wondering if I could replicate such a situation based on my selection. However, I would also like the option to view the entire video normally if I choose to do so through an alternative method
There's not video format I know that has embedded encryption, total or partial. Neither I know any video players that would expect the user to introduce a password mid video.
So it's doable but you would probably need to do it all yourself.
Easiest way would really divide the video into multiple parts, the ones you want encrypted and the ones you do not. Then encrypt the files in general and call for decryption before attempting to play the encrypted parts with some external ui element.
I'd like to do the following: for the first 15 minutes, I want to play the video normally and then either not show the rest or display a frozen image instead.
I occasionally encounter corrupted videos that only show certain parts and not the entire content.
I was wondering if I could replicate such a situation based on my selection. However, I would also like the option to view the entire video normally if I choose to do so through an alternative method
What you see is due to file corruption. The bits are not readable.
What you need can be done. You need a script that takes the video and purposely encrypt part of the data. Here you need to know the file format so you know what tou can encrypt.
The it's just a matter to run the script to encrypt and decrypt your video as needed.
Depending of the amount of security you require take into consideration that knowing that part of the video was purposely encrypted it's easy. Decryption of that part would depend on the strength of your algorithm and your key.
You should also take into account that depending on how the video is compressed (most videos are compressed, raw video takes too much space) you may not be able to cut with much precision the point in witch you want the video to stop being legible, depending of the type of compression it may have a few seconds of video each type which share the same data.
low security is ok, how can I go about it? any software or anything else I need to know
I suppose it's simple enough for a python script. I don't know about video formats but I don't think it would be really hard.
Thank you again.
I’m afraid I have no knowledge of Python or any scripting languages.
I hope this is just a beginner's brainstorming session, and that someone can guide me as if I were five years old.
You will have to do some work yourself (or hire someone to code the solution for you).
If the intended use is on linux, you could also write a bash script for it. If the position in the file (as in exact number of bytes till that position) is known, then you could use dd to cut the video file in two pieces, use gpg to encrypt the second part and then probably also use dd to put both pieces together again.
A video player like VLC should still be able to play the first part of the file (though other players might have bigger problems with such a file). To play the full file, you need to use your script to again seperate the two pieces, use gpg to decrypt the second part and put them back together.
You can also do this in python. Doing it cross platform (Linux, Mac and Windows) will be more difficult.
Yeah with your own player and format you could do whatever you want
Thank you, that is the ideal solution I appreciate very much I'm afraid I cannot create my own player or format with my limited knowledge I'm kind of searching a kind of player + a small hack to achieve such goal
This is a very broad question, the answer to which will almost definitely be "yes, but", so knowing what you are trying to achieve would be helpful.
I'd like to do the following: for the first 15 minutes, I want to play the video normally and then either not show the rest or display a frozen image instead.
I occasionally encounter corrupted videos that only show certain parts and not the entire content.
I was wondering if I could replicate such a situation based on my selection. However, I would also like the option to view the entire video normally if I choose to do so through an alternative method
Back in the day, you could do that in a flash presentation. (Sorta)
But without using something more powerful like that I wouldn't expect it to be possible.
You could use Ruffle since its an emulator for Flash:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruffle_(software)
https://github.com/ruffle-rs/ruffle
Websites like HomestarRunner use this so you can still experience the site as it was intended.
Have 2 files? The encrypted full version, and the 15min version with a frozen image tacked on at the end of the video for X amount of time.
I was thinking having the same 1 file can only play the first 15 min through a usual player as well as playable in full with another configured way
I know you want one file, but sometime the "workaround" is the way to go. At least, that is how I would solve the issue.
I'm not really sure what your end goal is, I imagine you have a website with a 15min preview and a screen at the end end to say "enter access code now". If the code is entered you point to a second video and set to start at the 15min marker.
Thank you for your pointers; I appreciate them very much.
I'd like to have the option for video files , partially locked at the same time able to be viewable whether is stored at hard disk/PC or cloud), if I could (for security & privacy reasons)
I'm happy that I have started the discussion on the subject to generate some good brainstorming, which may lead to a quick hack that I can implement myself, rather than opting for expensive solutions, if any
What's the purpose of the partially locked portion? To share with others? To quickly preview the contents?
Like others have said, the trouble with coming up with a one-file partial lock is compatibility. If its just local on your machine, that could theoretically be figured out. But the cloud web player is another issue. Unless you happen to be a webdev for your cloud company or write a plugin to replace the default player, you're not going to have that "feature" supported.
That leads me to a two file solution. In a folder you'd have a the short unlock version, and the encrypted version.
The trouble with that is, yes it's encrypted but you need to download the file to decrypt it and then destroy the local copy when your done. I'm unaware of any cloud service that supports decrypting video files on the fly, not that I've looked.
the purpose of the partially locked portion is To share with others selectively and To let everyone to quickly preview the contents The reason I mentioned the cloud is not necessarily get the support of the cloud system, I store the files on the cloud. so ideally viewer runs the file on his/her computer via link with a video player to be able to see the preview whereas another person viewing the same file in full via some sort of password, I don't care if a decrypted file is kept in the authorized guest computer or deleted
Just part?
I'd like to do the following: for the first 15 minutes, I want to play the video normally and then either not show the rest or display a frozen image instead.
I occasionally encounter corrupted videos that only show certain parts and not the entire content.
I was wondering if I could replicate such a situation based on my selection. However, I would also like the option to view the entire video normally if I choose to do so through an alternative method
this post was submitted on 29 May 2025
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