Making Content Secure From Browser and Robot Snooping

Block confidential information from internet browsers, robots, and spiders.

PHP is used to block revelation of the confidential information — without putting it into a password-protected directory.

The source code and more information is below the video.

If you need to put a file on your server with confidential information, these 3 steps provide a way to block the information from access by internet browsers and robots/spiders — any access with HTTP or HTTPS — without having to put it into a password-protected directory.

1. Make it a PHP file, a file that the server parses as PHP. Generally, that would be a file name with a .php extension.

2. Make this the first line in the file:

   <?php exit; ?>
   

3. Add the confidential information below that first line in the file.

Test it by creating a file named test.php that contains these two lines:

<?php exit; ?>
HELLO

Upload test.php to your server and type its URL into your browser. If you get a blank page, the "HELLO" content is protected. But if you see HELLO on the page, something was done incorrectly.

When done correctly, any confidential content below that first <?php exit; ?> line will be protected.

Will Bontrager