password protection

I need to find out how

[wsmith]

I am doing a site that will have a directory with e-mail names and phone #'s of children. I need to find out if there is a way to make this very secure without having to but any special programs?

[txbakers]

Hi and welcome to the webmaster world.

There are lots of ways to make sites password protected some dependent on your host's operating system.

Rather than try to teach it here in a post, I would recommend you look through certain websites with detailed instructions.

One of the most popular methods on UNIX platforms is the htaccess file method, in which the htaccess file references a list of acceptable users and passwords before letting someone see the file.

There will be lots of help forthcoming.

[wsmith]

Thanks, I knew the host has an area for password protection, but I am not sure how secure that is?
Do you know how secure htaccess is?

[wruk999]

Hi wsmith,

Welcome to WebmasterWorld. Be sure to read Marcia's introduction & guide [webmasterworld.com].

My preferred method of security, is by using the htaccess method. This is possibly the most secure on the unix platform [as txbakers said].

Take a look at the below post, and in particular msg#3, which explains how to implement and use htaccess.
Login Password & Usernames [webmasterworld.com]

Regards,
wruk999

[wsmith]

Thanks all, for your suggestions and help!

wsmith

[txbakers]

if you do a google search on "htaccess" you'll probably come across a script to webadminister the htacesss file - I've used it and like it very much.

[markusf]

if your using IIS, try looking at integrated security, or basic authentication....