mod_rewrite and mod_auth

[askthefool]

Is it possible to password protect "virtual directories". For example, http://example.com/apple/ is actually index.php?page=apple. Is there some way to password protect the /apple/ "virtual" directory?

[sacx13]

Yes ... but you need to manage the code for that.

Read This:
[php.net...]

[extras]

You can actually create that directory and password protect it.
It should work as you wanted, since auth happens before RewriteRule processing.