Learning Platform with Document Security

Challenge

A high school needed to prevent unauthorized sharing of proprietary PDF course materials. Standard DRM solutions were either too expensive or too easy to circumvent, and the institution needed a system that could also serve as a full learning platform for remote students.

Solution

Built a custom LMS that started as a PDF piracy protection system and evolved into a full remote-learning platform:

• Per-user PGP encryption — Each student receives a unique PGP key pair. PDFs are encrypted server-side with the student's public key and decrypted client-side in the browser, making shared files useless to other users
• JavaScript beacon tracking — Embedded beacons inside each PDF report back to the server when a document is opened. Server-side logic detects unauthorized viewers based on key mismatches
• Full LMS features — Course enrollment, progress tracking, assignment submission, and content delivery
• Pandemic-ready architecture — When COVID-19 forced remote learning in 2020, the system scaled to handle the entire student body without any architectural changes

Impact

• Zero unauthorized distribution — The encryption and beacon system effectively eliminated PDF piracy
• Pandemic resilience — Scaled unexpectedly fast during 2020 remote learning demand; architecture held without redesign
• Sole developer delivery — Built the entire technical system as the sole developer