I would like to use it in a linux network, which allows users to browse and only view odt and docs. It should not allow them to change them, or create new files.
I think the question was edited since the first post, now explaining the background in addition.
If so, I would ask you to state this here. Given the actual text (2014-07-10 13:23 CEST) my original answer seems devaluated as missing the point.
I have no means to protect the correct relation of my answer to a changing question.
Yes, Writer is a perfect viewer for Writer (.odt) documents an for a lot more. And the best - it’s free.
If someone wants to NOT INSTALL writer on his system and though viewing .odt and so on, he may use the PORTABLE version available from PortableApps or from LibreOffice. It will run “from the stick” or, if from the HD, it will not leave much deposits - and next to nothing in the Win registry.
[APPENDING]
See http://www.libreoffice.org/download/portable-versions/ and http://portableapps.com/apps/office/libreoffice_portable
[begin EDIT1]
Protecting something is the job of the one who wants to have things protected. If he delivers unencrypted documents in an editable format, there will not be any actual protection by just not supplying an editing tool in a specific environment. The MS-Word Viewer is, of course, also no means of protection but a means spreding a so called product and hooking hoped-for paying licensees. No reason for this concerning free sofware.
How then? In a network the proper means preventing MANIPULATION is RIGHTS. FAKING an edited version and foisting it at someone as coming from the original author will always be possible for a .odt or a .doc … if the “r” right is granted. The software IS available for everyone. Somehow reduced the risk may be if you deliver as “not searchable pdf” - or as an image.
LibreOffice does also offer the feature to save files with a password needed for switching into edit mode. However, the not editable version will not show formatting aids, grids … I am not the right one to talk about Word.
Concerning Linux and Portable LibO together: My experiments under some Kubuntu with a recent Wine showed everything (even PortableApps platform) working flawlessly. [end EDIT1]
Viewer for OpenDocument Format office files. It can display documents saved from LibreOffice, OpenOffice, Calligra, Abiword, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint. The documents should be saved in the OpenDocument Format.
From: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/webodf/