A data storage device provides information to an application while protecting the information from being copied. Particularly, the data storage device may include a detector to detect an access to an indicator. The indictor may be integrated with the information in such a way that a copy application will access the indicator when copying the information but another application using the information (e.g. a database application) will not access the indicator. The data storage device may further be configured to undertake a defensive response when access to the indicator is detected. Defensive responses may include terminating the access, issuing a report, or sending spurious data to the host. The configuration of the indicator and timing of the response may be chosen to impede separation of the indicator from the data.