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security files cpanelui

Directory Privacy

Valid for versions 88 through the latest version

Version:

88

Last modified: October 10, 2024

Looking for this interface?
Note:

Your hosting provider can enable or disable this interface in WHM's Feature Manager interface (WHM >> Home >> Packages >> Feature Manager).

Overview

This interface allows you to protect specific directories in your cPanel account’s files. After you enable this feature for a directory, when users attempt to view that directory via a website, the system prompts them to log in.

Note:

  • This feature modifies htaccess and htpasswd configurations in order to restrict access to files on your websites.

  • This feature does not protect directories that users access via FTP, SFTP, Web Disk, or other services, or when they access files locally.

Select a directory

To use this interface, select a directory to manage.

  • To select a directory, click the desired directory’s name.

  • To view and select subdirectories, click the parent directory’s name. Then, click the desired subdirectory name.

To configure the security settings for a directory or subdirectory, click Edit under the Actions column.

Note:

  • A protected directory’s subdirectories inherit their parent directory’s password protection.

  • The lock icon () indicates that Directory Privacy configurations already exist for that directory.

Security Settings

Important:
You must perform these steps and click Save in order to enable this feature.

To password protect the selected directory, perform the following steps:

  1. Select the Password protect this directory checkbox.

    Note:
    To remove password protection from a directory, deselect the Password protect this directory checkbox. Then, click Save.

  2. Enter a label for the directory in the Enter a name for the protected directory text box.

    Note:
    This name only functions as a label for the directory in its .htaccess file. Do not confuse it with the directory’s actual name.

  3. Click Save. A confirmation message will appear. Click Go Back to return to the directory’s configuration.

Important:
After you complete this process, you must create a user that can access this directory.

Create User

Warning:

To create a user for a directory, the directory must have correct directory permissions. If you cannot create a user, change the directory’s permissions to 0700 in cPanel’s File Manager interface (cPanel » Home » Files » File Manager).

To create an authorized user for the selected directory, perform the following steps:

  1. Enter the desired username in the Username text box.

  2. Enter and confirm the new password in the appropriate text boxes.

    Note:

    • The system evaluates the password that you enter on a scale of 100 points. 0 indicates a weak password, while 100 indicates a very secure password.

    • Some web hosts require a minimum password strength. A green password Strength meter indicates that the password is equal to or greater than the required password strength.

    • Click Password Generator to generate a strong password. For more information, read our Password & Security documentation.

  3. Click Save. A confirmation message will appear. Click Go Back to return to the directory’s configuration.

Note:
To change an existing user’s password, enter the user’s information and the new desired password. Then, click Save.

Authorized Users

The Authorized Users menu lists the directory’s existing authorized users. To delete a user, select that user and click Delete User. A confirmation message will appear. Click Go Back to return to the directory’s configuration.

Additional Documentation