HOW TO SAFE THE APACHE SERVER FROM BLOODY HACKERS...

[Asim]

It's really very risky for my system to have people on my server to view my site.So is there any way through which I can have definate ID and PASSWORD protection on my server.So that no one can enter in my server without entering th same ID and PASSWORD.Not even me as well.
If someone know so kindly help me please...
ANY RESPOND SHALL BE SO APPRECIATED...

Regards,
Asim Siddiqui.

[Musicman]

Hi Asim,

that's what .htaccess files are good for...
Now, since you go on the net to have your friends look at your computer, you should also consider a firewall. People only need to access your http port, but no other ports on your machine.
You can also make apache listen on a different port and use the virtualhost configuration so that the outside world can see only specific pages. Using a different port avoids virus-related traffic (there is no real danger from it, but why should your computer work for others at all, even if it is only sending 404 replies?)
I have a similar setup based on name rather than port, so if I want somebody to view files, they will be available via a virtualhost config at somename.somedyndns.org, all other files are only accessible via a local hostname or local ip

Musicman