htaccess block/redirect

[jackdack]

hi

A client is launching a new product which will have it's own website. They're also in negotiations with a Brazilian company about a competitive product. In the short term, they don't want the Brazilian company to know about this new website. Circumstances have now meant that, although they didn't want to while negotiations were continuing, they have had to stand up the new website.
I'm familiar with blocking an ip or range but they don't want to present a 403. Is there a way to block a range without generating a 403 or creating a redirect? This is only a one page website, their are not lots of pages or folders to block...

Thank you

[jackdack]

oops: 'Is there a way to block a range without generating a 403 or creating a redirect?' I meant is there a way to block without a 403 OR an alternative method using a redirect based on IP? Thank you

[jdMorgan]

If it is on the Web, it *will* be discovered. Think search engine "cached pages" and page-snapshot thumbnails at "Compete, Inc." and other such sites.

Therefore, the best approach here is to put up the site with "Brazilian-neutral" content, and be done with it.

Other than that, you can "invisibly" rewrite requests from the many and diverse Brazilian IP address ranges to alternate content. But even if this is implemented flawlessly, it *will* be discovered --and easily-- either due to a failure to track the daily changes in IP range allocations, or by a Brazilian company representative at their Tampa, Florida office...

I'd advise "playing it straight" with your potential partner, myself. Perhaps the presence of the product on your new site can be "played to advantage" instead of attempting to 'hide' it. You just can't put something on the Web and try to hide it like this.. It simply can't be done perfectly enough for this situation.

Jim

[jackdack]

OK, thanks Jim