Are there alternative methods to access protected files in PHP without compromising security?

When dealing with protected files in PHP, it is essential to ensure that only authorized users can access them. One way to achieve this without compromising security is by using PHP sessions to authenticate users before allowing them to access the protected files. By checking the user's session credentials against a predefined list of authorized users, you can prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files. 

session_start();

// Check if user is logged in
if(!isset($_SESSION['logged_in']) || $_SESSION['logged_in'] !== true) {
    // Redirect to login page or display an error message
    header("Location: login.php");
    exit;
}

// Check if user is authorized to access the protected file
$authorized_users = ['admin', 'user1', 'user2']; // Define list of authorized users
if(!in_array($_SESSION['username'], $authorized_users)) {
    // Display an error message or redirect to unauthorized page
    echo "You are not authorized to access this file.";
    exit;
}

// Proceed with accessing the protected file
// Your code to read and display the protected file goes here

Keywords

file access security PHP alternative methods protected files

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