Title: Content Sentinel: Secure Downloads Author: contentsentinel Published: December 3, 2025 Last modified: December 4, 2025 --- Search plugins ![](https://ps.w.org/content-sentinel/assets/banner-772x250.png?rev=3409604) ![](https://ps.w.org/content-sentinel/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=3409129) # Content Sentinel: Secure Downloads By [contentsentinel](https://profiles.wordpress.org/contentsentinel/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/content-sentinel.1.0.zip) * [Details](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/content-sentinel/#description) * [Reviews](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/content-sentinel/#reviews) * [Installation](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/content-sentinel/#installation) * [Development](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/content-sentinel/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/content-sentinel/) ## Description Content Sentinel is a powerful WordPress plugin that enables secure, time-limited access to files stored in AWS S3 or S3-compatible storage providers (like Wasabi, DigitalOcean Spaces, and Backblaze B2). Perfect for protecting premium content, course materials, digital products, and media files. #### Key Features * **Secure File Delivery**: Generate presigned URLs that expire automatically, ensuring your files remain protected * **S3 Browser**: Browse your S3 bucket directly from WordPress admin (Pro feature) * **S3 Compatible**: Works with AWS S3, Wasabi, DigitalOcean Spaces, Backblaze B2, and other S3-compatible providers * **Clean URLs**: Use shortcodes to generate clean, user-friendly download links instead of long presigned URLs * **No AWS SDK Required**: Pure PHP implementation – no external dependencies * **Easy Setup**: One-click AWS CloudFormation setup or manual configuration * **Flexible Delivery Modes**: Force download or stream/play in browser (Pro feature) * **Custom Denial Messages**: Customize access denied messages (Pro feature) #### How It Works 1. **Configure Your Storage**: Connect to your AWS S3 bucket or S3-compatible provider 2. **Generate Secure Links**: Use the shortcode `[content_sentinel_url key="/path/ to/file.mp4"]` to create secure download links 3. **Automatic Expiration**: Links expire after a set time (default: 10 minutes, configurable) 4. **Protect Your Content**: Files are never directly accessible – users must go through WordPress authentication #### Use Cases * **Course Platforms**: Deliver course videos and materials securely * **Digital Products**: Protect downloadable products and resources * **Membership Sites**: Control access to premium content * **Media Libraries**: Securely serve large video/audio files * **Document Sharing**: Share sensitive documents with time-limited access #### Pro Features (Content Sentinel Pro) Upgrade to Content Sentinel Pro for advanced features: * **Access Control**: Integrate with MemberPress, Paid Memberships Pro, or WordPress Roles * **Download Limiting**: Set per-user and per-IP download limits * **Download Logging**: Track all download attempts with detailed logs * **Custom Expiration**: Override default expiration times per file * **S3 Browser**: Browse, navigate, and manage files directly in WordPress * **Enhanced Video Player**: Professional video player with speed controls and Picture-in-Picture * **File Access Rules**: Set granular permissions for individual files * **Export/Import Rules**: Backup and restore your access control settings * **Coming Soon – Google Cloud Services – S3. * **Coming Soon – Visual Controls for the Enhanced Video Player. #### Technical Details * **Pure PHP**: No external dependencies or AWS SDK required * **AWS Signature Version 4**: Industry-standard security for S3 requests * **WordPress Native**: Uses WordPress APIs and follows WordPress coding standards * **Performance Optimized**: Caching and efficient URL generation * **Security First**: Input sanitization, nonce verification, and capability checks #### Service Disclosure This plugin relies on Amazon Web Services (AWS) to store and retrieve files as well as other S3 compliant services digitalocean, backblaze b2, Wasabi. * [AWS Privacy Policy](https://aws.amazon.com/privacy/) * [DO Privacy Policy](https://www.digitalocean.com/legal/privacy-policy/) * [B2 Privacy Policy](https://www.backblaze.com/company/policy/privacy) * [Wasabi Privacy Policy](https://wasabi.com/legal/privacy-policy/) ### Support For support, feature requests, and bug reports, please visit: * Website: https:// content-sentinel.com * Support: support@content-sentinel.com * Documentation: https:// content-sentinel.com/docs ### Credits Content Sentinel: Secure Downloads is developed by Content Sentinel. Special thanks to the WordPress community and all contributors. ## Installation #### Automatic Installation 1. Log in to your WordPress admin panel 2. Navigate to **Plugins** **Add New** 3. Search for “Content Sentinel” 4. Click **Install Now** 5. Click **Activate** #### Manual Installation 1. Download the plugin zip file 2. Extract the files to `/wp-content/plugins/content-sentinel/` 3. Log in to your WordPress admin panel 4. Navigate to **Plugins** 5. Find “Content Sentinel” and click **Activate** #### Setup Instructions 1. Go to **Settings** **Content Sentinel** 2. Choose your setup method: 3. * **Quick Setup**: Use the AWS CloudFormation one-click setup (AWS only) * **Manual Setup**: Enter your S3 credentials manually 4. Configure your storage provider: 5. * Select **Amazon S3** or **S3 Compatible** * Enter your bucket name, region, access key, and secret key * For S3 Compatible providers, enter your custom endpoint URL 6. Click **Test Connection** to verify your credentials 7. Click **Save Settings** #### Getting Your AWS Credentials If you don’t have AWS credentials: 1. Use the **AWS Quick Setup** button in the plugin 2. This will open the AWS CloudFormation console 3. Follow the step-by-step guide to create a secure S3 bucket and IAM user 4. Copy the credentials back to WordPress For S3-compatible providers, refer to your provider’s documentation for obtaining access credentials. ## FAQ ### Do I need an AWS account? No! Content Sentinel works with AWS S3, but also supports S3-compatible providers like Wasabi, DigitalOcean Spaces, and Backblaze B2. You can use any S3-compatible storage service. ### Is the AWS SDK required? No! Content Sentinel uses pure PHP to generate AWS Signature Version 4 requests. No external dependencies are required. ### How secure are presigned URLs? Presigned URLs use AWS Signature Version 4, the same security standard used by AWS SDKs. URLs expire after a set time (default: 10 minutes), and each URL is cryptographically signed. ### Can I use this with S3-compatible providers? Yes! Content Sentinel supports any S3-compatible storage provider. Simply select“ S3 Compatible” and enter your provider’s endpoint URL. ### What permissions does my IAM user need? Your IAM user needs: * `s3:GetObject` – To download files * `s3:ListBucket` – To browse files (Pro feature) You can restrict access to specific buckets or paths for additional security. ### How do I generate download links? Use the shortcode: `[content_sentinel_url key="/path/to/file.mp4"]` Or use the Pro version’s S3 Browser to copy links directly. ### Can I customize the expiration time? Yes! The default expiration is 10 minutes, but you can change it in settings (up to 7 days, which is AWS’s maximum). Pro users can set custom expiration times per file. ### What happens if a link expires? Expired links return an error. Users will need to request a new link. This ensures your content remains protected. ### Do I need the Pro version? The free version provides secure file delivery with presigned URLs. Upgrade to Pro for access control using wordpress roles/memberpress/paid membership pro, download limiting, file logging, and the S3 Browser Control interface. ### Is my data secure? Yes! Content Sentinel follows WordPress security best practices: * All inputs are sanitized * Nonces verify form submissions * Capability checks restrict access * No sensitive data is logged * Files are never directly accessible ## Reviews There are no reviews for this plugin. ## Contributors & Developers “Content Sentinel: Secure Downloads” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ contentsentinel ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/contentsentinel/) [Translate “Content Sentinel: Secure Downloads” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/content-sentinel) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/content-sentinel/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/content-sentinel/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/content-sentinel/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/content-sentinel/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 1.0 * Initial release * AWS S3 and S3-compatible provider support * Presigned URL generation * Shortcode support for clean URLs * AWS CloudFormation one-click setup * Manual configuration option * S3 Browser (Pro feature) * Access Control integration (Pro feature) * Download limiting and logging (Pro feature) * Enhanced video player (Pro feature) ## Meta * Version **1.0** * Last updated **4 months ago** * Active installations **Fewer than 10** * WordPress version ** 5.0 or higher ** * Tested up to **6.8.5** * PHP version ** 7.4 or higher ** * Language * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/content-sentinel/) * Tags * [cloud storage](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/cloud-storage/)[content-protection](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/content-protection/) [s3](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/s3/)[secure downloads](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/secure-downloads/) * [Advanced View](https://pcd.wordpress.org/plugins/content-sentinel/advanced/) ## Ratings No reviews have been submitted yet. [Add my review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/content-sentinel/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/content-sentinel/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ contentsentinel ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/contentsentinel/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/content-sentinel/)