Overview:
Distinct from Visual Watermarking, Forensic Watermarking adds hidden markers into digital files, like images or videos, marking them as unique to their owner. These markers can be later uncovered with special tools, helping to track down unauthorized sharing or use of the content.
Similar to Visual Watermarking, this feature is built into MediaBoxes. Within Ci, please note that users can either enable Visual watermark or Forensic, but not both at the same time. To learn more about Visual Watermarking, please visit the Visual Watermark & Download support article in our Help Center.
For some Enterprise users, having forensic watermarking is very valuable as a security measure. This feature is only available at the Company Network level. In order to enable this feature, please reach out to the Ci Customer Success team by submitting a request here . In this article, we will show you how to use Forensic Watermarking.
Select a file to Share in a MediaBox
To learn more about MediaBoxes, please check out our support article Create MediaBoxes . When you create a MediaBox to share content, users must choose either Secure or Protected* MediaBoxes in order to apply Forensic Watermarks.
*Please note that Protected MediaBoxes have more caveats to keep in mind than Secure MediaBoxes.
In the Create MediaBox dialog, open the Advanced Settings, and select "Apply forensic watermarking to videos" check box:
Figure 1: MediaBox Advanced Settings
In a Forensic watermark-enabled MediaBox, please note the following:
- This feature can work for both Secure and Protected MediaBoxes, but only with Secure does a user need to login.
- Due to this, a watermark that is applied to files within a Protected MediaBox will not be able to be traced back to an individual user, and instead will be tracked back to the MediaBox that the files were leaked from.
- Forensic watermark only applies to videos.
- Videos must be over 3 minutes long.
- Folders are not supported.
- Forensic watermark is only applied to the highest quality proxy available at time of execution - adaptive bitrate streaming is not supported.
- Downloading forensic watermarked videos is available.
After applying the MediaBox settings select Create MediaBox.
Forensic Watermarked MediaBox Processing
Upon creating the MediaBox, users can send recipients the MediaBox link. However, the videos will not be available to be viewed or downloaded right away as Ci is applying the forensic watermarks to the videos (see Figure 2). If the sender chooses to notify recipients by sending an email from the MediaBox modal, the notifications will be delayed until all videos in the MediaBox are processed with the Forensic watermarking applied:
Figure 2. Processing state
While in the processing state, recipients can open the MediaBox and see videos are processing, but are not able to open it. MediaBox recipients will receive an email notification when processing is completed. To view/download the MediaBox select Go to MediaBox:
Figure 3: MediaBox Email Notification
Upon entering the MediaBox, the recipient will notice files are ready to be viewed and downloaded. To preview a file simply click on it. To download individual files, select the download icon. To download all files in the MediaBox, click the download icon near the upper-right corner of the MediaBox and select Download all:
Figure 4: MediaBox View
Forensic Watermark ID:
Forensic Watermark IDs within a Secure MediaBox have both User ID and Asset ID inside. i.e. if an user is a recipient of 5 different videos, each video would have a different Forensic Watermark ID.
Forensic Watermarking Investigation
One of the benefits of using Forensic Watermarking is that an investigation can be done if content has appeared to have been leaked. This investigation entails running forensic detection process for any files that the Customer had identified for the investigation. If the files have forensic watermarking detected, a report will be generated identifying activity in Ci related to the files. This report would then be provided for the Customer as a result of the investigation.
As mentioned above, there are two different MediaBoxes that can utilize Forensic Watermarking:
Secure and Protected.
With Secure, if a forensic watermark is detected, then it can be traced back to an individual.
However, with Protected, the forensic watermark will only be traced back to a MediaBox.
If you need to be able to trace back to an individual, we recommend the following:
- Use forensic watermarking with a Secure MediaBox, OR,
- Limit each Forensic Protected MediaBox to an individual recipient.
If there is a need to request an investigation of a forensically watermarked file or files, please create a download-enabled MediaBox containing any files that need the investigation. Create a Help Ticket in the Help Center, place "Forensic Watermark Investigation" in the title of the MediaBox. Include the MediaBox link in the Help Ticket. Tickets submitted during working hours should receive a report within 24 hours.
For any additional questions, please reach out to the Ci Customer Success Team by submitting a request here in the Help Center.