Leak Detector reads the hidden marks in copies made by File Watermarker, ARC Tracker and Reader Magnets, and tells you who a copy was made for.
Check a file
- Download the pirated file to your computer.
- Open Leak Detector from the sidebar.
- Make sure the Upload a file tab is selected.
- Drag the file onto the page, or click Choose a file and pick it.
The check starts as soon as you add the file. While it runs you'll see Reading the marks…. The file is read in your browser and isn't uploaded anywhere.
You can drop the file anywhere on the Leak Detector page, not only on the box. On other pages of the app, dropping a PDF or EPUB offers a choice of tools; pick Leak Detector to check it there.
What files work
- PDF and EPUB files up to 50 MB.
- A plain text (.txt) file dropped on the page is moved into the Paste some text tab and checked as text.
For anything else, copy some text out of it and paste it instead.
Reading the result
A match says This looks like the copy made for the reader, then lists their Email, the Book (or Reader magnet), when the copy was Made, and what was Found: a hidden ID in the file's properties, hidden text in the file, or invisible characters in the book's own text.
To check another file, click Check a different file. A file you've already checked shows its earlier result straight away.
A match shows whose copy it was, not who shared it. A copy can be passed on by someone else, so use it to start a conversation rather than to accuse anyone.