Thursday, February 18th, 2010
Learn how to setup, configure, secure, optimize, and create a low-maintenance website the AskApache way. I’m piecing together all the hacks, tricks, methods, and ideas discussed throughout this blog and all across Netdom and glueing them all together to show you how to have the most optimized, crazy fastest, and best website setup I can think of.
Tags: 301 Redirect, admin, Advanced, Ajax, Apache, apache server, askapache, Backups, Bandwidth, bleeding edge, blog, Cache, Cache-Control, caching, ColdFusion, compression, CSS, Dig, DNS, errordocument, Etags, Examples, expires header, feed, File Permissions, Flash, GET, Hacking, hacks, Htaccess, htaccess files, Htpasswd, HTTP Error, HTTP Headers, HTTP Status Codes, HTTPS SSL, Javascript, Linux, Login, Logs, Mod_Rewrite, Optimization, optimizations, optimized website, password, password protection, PDF, Performance, PHP, php.ini, Port, post, ram, real deal, Redirect, Redirection, Rewrite Tricks, Robot, robots, robots.txt, Scripts, search and replace, Security, server, server config, servers, SPEED, SSI, stat, SymLinks, trial and error, trick, Web Development, Web Hosting, web server, WordPress, WordPress Plugins
Posted in Apache, Cache, DreamHost, Featured, Hacking, Htaccess, Linux Unix BSD, PHP, SEO, Security, Shell Scripting, Web Design, Web Hosting, Webmaster, WordPress | 9 Comments »
Saturday, January 10th, 2009
Skip this – still under edit
I discovered these tips and tricks mostly while working as a network security penetration specialist hired to find security holes in web hosting environments. Shared hosting is the most common and cheapest form of web-hosting where multiple customers are placed on a single machine and “share” the resources (CPU/RAM/SPACE). The machines are configured to basically ONLY do HTTP and FTP. No shells or any interactive logins, no ssh, just FTP access. That is when I started examining htaccess files in great detail and learned about the incredible untapped power of htaccess. For 99% of the worlds best Apache admins, they don’t use .htaccess much, if AT ALL. It’s much easier, safer, and faster to configure Apache using the httpd.conf file instead. However, this file is almost never readable on shared-hosts, and I’ve never seen it writable. So the only avenue left for those on shared-hosting was and is the .htaccess file, and holy freaking fiber-optics.. it’s almost as powerful as httpd.conf itself!
Most all .htaccess code works in the httpd.conf file, but not all httpd.conf code works in .htaccess files, around 50%. So all the best Apache admins and programmers never used .htaccess files. There was no incentive for those with access to httpd.conf to use htaccess, and the gap grew. It’s common to see “computer gurus” on forums and mailing lists rail against all uses and users of .htaccess files, smugly announcing the well known problems with .htaccess files compared with httpd.conf – I wonder if these “gurus” know the history of the htaccess file, like it’s use in the earliest versions of the HTTP Server- NCSA’s HTTPd, which BTW, became known as Apache HTTP. So you could easily say that htaccess files predates Apache itself.
Once I discovered what .htaccess files could do towards helping me enumerate and exploit security vulnerabilities even on big shared-hosts I focused all my research into .htaccess files, meaning I was reading the venerable Apache HTTP Source code 24/7! I compiled every released version of the Apache Web Server, ever, even NCSA’s, and focused on enumerating the most powerful htaccess directives. Good times! Because my focus was on protocol/file/network vulnerabilites instead of web dev I built up a nice toolbox of htaccess tricks to do unusual things. When I switched over to webdev in 2005 I started using htaccess for websites, not research. I documented most of my favorites and rewrote the htaccess guide for webdevelopers. After some great encouragement on various forums and nets I decided to start a blog to share my work with everyone, AskApache.com was registered, I published my guide, and it was quickly plagiarized and scraped all over the net. Information is freedom, and freedom is information, so this blog has the least restrictive copyright for you. Feel free to modify, copy, republish, sell, or use anything on this site ;)
Tags: .htaccess examples, 301 Redirect, 302 Redirect, 401, 403 Forbidden, 404 Not Found, 500, 503, admin, Advanced, Apache, Apache Htaccess, apache ssl, askapache, ASP, authorization, Backups, Bandwidth, bash, Blocking, Boot, Cache, Cache-Control, caching, cheatsheet, chmod, code snippets, compression, Cookies, CSS, debugging, DreamHost, Email, error log, errordocument, Etags, Examples, experiments, feed, FeedBurner, File System, FilesMatch, filesystem, Firefox, Flash, Forms, GET, Google, Hacking, hotlinking, HowTo, Htaccess, htaccess files, htaccess guide, htaccess rewrite, htaccess tricks, htaccess tutorial, Htpasswd, HTTP Error, HTTP Headers, HTTP-EQUIV, httpd, httpd.conf, HTTPS SSL, hyper text transfer protocol, If-Modified-Since, Javascript, Last-Modified, Linux, Login, Logs, mad skills, mod_include, mod_python, Mod_Rewrite, Mod_Rewrite examples, Mod_Security, Mod_Setenvif, mysql, Nice, nsa, password, password protection, PDF, Performance, Perl, PHP, php.ini, phpinfo, Port, post, Powweb, Prompt, Python, ram, Redirect, Redirection, Request Method, Rewrite Tricks, rewritecond, rewriterule, Robot, robots, Sample .htaccess, Scripts, Security, SEO, seo secrets, server, server config, servers, SetEnvIf, Shell, Socket, Source Code, SPEED, SSH, SSI, stat, SymLinks, trick, tutorial, ultimate htaccess, Username, Web Hosting, WordPress
Posted in Apache, Apache Modules, Cache, DreamHost, Featured, Google, Hacking, Htaccess, Linux Unix BSD, Mod_Rewrite, SEO, Security, Web Design, Web Hosting, Web Tools, Webmaster, WordPress | 71 Comments »
Friday, December 19th, 2008
This is all new, experimental, and very very cool. It literally uses .htaccess techniques to create several virtual “locked gates” that require a specific key to unlock, in a specific order that cannot be bypassed. It uses whitelisting .htaccess tricks to specify exactly what is allowed, instead of trying to specify everything that isn’t allowed. Also, by setting specific cookies/tokens after successfully passing through a gate, we can then require the exact cookie/token from the previous gate, which stops an attacker from skipping or bypassing gates.
Tags: 302 Redirect, 401, 403 Forbidden, 404 Not Found, 500, 503, Advanced, Apache, askapache, Cookies, Dig, errordocument, GET, Google, Hacking, Htaccess, htaccess tricks, Htpasswd, httpd, HTTPS SSL, Linux, Login, Mod_Rewrite, password, PHP, phpBB, post, Prompt, ram, Redirect, Rewrite Tricks, rewritecond, rewriterule, Security, server, SetEnvIf, Sniffing, SSI, stat, trick, WordPress
Posted in Apache, Featured, Hacking, Htaccess, Mod_Rewrite, Security | 7 Comments »
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008
4.6 just released…. Check It Out.
:p
Tags: Advanced, Apache, askapache, GET, Htaccess, htaccess files, Htpasswd, Mod_Security, password, password protection, Port, Security, server, WordPress
Posted in WordPress, WordPress Plugins | 10 Comments »
Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008
Mod_Security rivals Mod_Rewrite in the amount of features it provides. I decided to go ahead and post what I learned about it today, even though its tough to give away such awesome htaccess and apache tricks.. Learn how to control spam once and for all, conditionally log/deny/allow/redirect requests based on IP, username, etc.. Mod_Security is so fine!
Tags: 301 Redirect, 401, 403 Forbidden, 500, 503, admin, Ajax, Apache, apache ssl, askapache, authorization, Bandwidth, Cache, Cache-Control, caching, Cookies, debugging, DreamHost, Email, error log, errordocument, Examples, FilesMatch, GET, Hacking, Htaccess, htaccess files, htaccess guide, htaccess tricks, htaccess tutorial, Htpasswd, HTTP Headers, HTTP Status Codes, httpd, httpd.conf, HTTPS SSL, Login, Logs, Mod_Rewrite, Mod_Rewrite examples, Mod_Security, nsa, password, password protection, Perl, PHP, Port, post, Prompt, ram, Redirect, Request Method, Rewrite Tricks, rewritecond, rewriterule, Robot, robots, Scanners, Security, SEO, server, servers, SetEnvIf, Shell, SPEED, SSI, stat, trick, tutorial, Username, WordPress
Posted in Apache, Apache Modules, DreamHost, Featured, Htaccess, Security, Web Hosting, Webmaster | 8 Comments »
Thursday, April 10th, 2008
htaccess rewrite / Mod_Rewrite Tips and Tricks is as glamorous as it sounds! htaccess rewrite mod_rewrite is just possibly one of the most useful Apache modules and features. The ability to rewrite requests internally as well as externally is extremely powerful.
Tags: 301 Redirect, 302 Redirect, 401, 403 Forbidden, Advanced, Apache, Apache Htaccess, Apache Modules, apache ssl, askapache, Bandwidth, Cache, Cache-Control, caching, cheatsheet, code snippets, CSS, Dig, errordocument, Examples, experiments, feed, FeedBurner, Firefox, Flash, GET, Hacking, hotlinking, Htaccess, htaccess guide, htaccess rewrite, htaccess tricks, htaccess tutorial, Htpasswd, HTTP Headers, httpd, httpd.conf, HTTPS SSL, Javascript, Login, Mod_Rewrite, Mod_Rewrite examples, Mod_Security, Nice, PDF, Perl, PHP, Port, Redirect, Redirecting URLS, Redirection, Request Method, Rewrite Tricks, rewritecond, rewriterule, Security, SEO, server, servers, SetEnvIf, SPEED, SSI, stat, SymLinks, trick, tutorial, WordPress
Posted in Apache, Cache, DreamHost, Featured, Htaccess, SEO, Security | 86 Comments »
Saturday, March 29th, 2008
AskApache Password Protect adds some serious password protection to your WordPress Blog. Not only does it protect your wp-admin directory, but also your wp-includes, wp-content, plugins, etc. plugins as well. Imagine a HUGE brick wall protecting your frail .php scripts from the endless attacks of automated web robots and password-guessing exploit-serving scripts.
Tags: 403 Forbidden, admin, Apache, askapache, AskApache Password Protection, Backups, File Permissions, GET, Hacking, Htaccess, htaccess files, Htpasswd, Login, Logs, Nice, password, password protection, PHP, phpBB, ram, Robot, robots, Scripts, Security, server, servers, SPEED, SSI, stat, Username, WordPress
Posted in Apache, Hacking, PHP, Security, WordPress, WordPress Plugins | 100 Comments »
Thursday, February 7th, 2008
WordPress plugin gives you control over HTTP Basic Authentication for your WordPress blog which among other things, stops most automated hacking attempts and exploits being attempted, cutting down on the number of requests, connections, and mysql queries for all WordPress blogs on the Internet.
Tags: Apache, askapache, AskApache Password Protection, encryption, Hacking, Htaccess, Htpasswd, httpd, HTTPS SSL, Logs, mysql, password, password protection, PHP, Port, Prompt, Security, server, servers, WordPress, WordPress Security
Posted in WordPress Plugins | 14 Comments »
Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
Learn how to log and debug usernames and passwords used to login to a htaccess basic authorization protected website using php. This article is BOSS and will show you how to fully take control of this aspect of security using php and .htaccess, I don’t believe you will find instructions to do this anywhere else on the net.
Tags: 401, admin, Apache, askapache, ASP, authorization, debugging, DreamHost, errordocument, GET, HowTo, Htaccess, Htpasswd, httpd, Login, password, PHP, Redirect, Rewrite Tricks, rewritecond, rewriterule, Security, server, Source Code, stat, Username
Posted in Apache, Apache Modules, DreamHost, Featured, Htaccess, Linux Unix BSD, Mod_Rewrite, PHP, Security, Server Administration, Shell Scripting | 7 Comments »
Saturday, August 18th, 2007
Apache Web Server users have problems getting Apache Authentication/password-protection in htaccess working, this is a troubleshooting guide to get Password Protection working!
Tags: Apache, Apache Htaccess, askapache, ASP, authorization, Cache, chmod, Dig, Elite, encryption, Examples, GET, HowTo, Htaccess, htaccess files, htaccess tutorial, Htpasswd, httpd, httpd.conf, HTTPS SSL, Linux, password, password protection, PHP, Port, post, Prompt, ram, Robot, robots, Security, server, Shell, Socket, SSH Tunnels, stat, tutorial, wp-config.php
Posted in Apache, Apache Modules, DreamHost, Htaccess, Linux Unix BSD, Mod_Rewrite, Security, Server Administration | 3 Comments »
AskApache Password Protect adds some serious password protection to your WordPress Blog. Not only does it protect your wp-admin directory, but also your wp-includes, wp-content, plugins, etc. plugins as well. Imagine a HUGE brick wall protecting your frail .php scripts from the endless attacks of automated web robots and password-guessing exploit-serving scripts.
This article shows how to save and modify php session data, cookies, do anything really… without using ajax or iframes or forcing the user make a request.
Just a very brief look at speeding up form submission by delegating the processing and bandwidth to your server, not your client.
WordPress plugin gives you control over HTTP Basic Authentication for your WordPress blog which among other things, stops most automated hacking attempts and exploits being attempted, cutting down on the number of requests, connections, and mysql queries for all WordPress blogs on the Internet. 
If you have a Powweb Webhosting account, you will appreciate this simple skeleton .htaccess file for use on their systems.
