Is it necessary or recommended to include a hash when setting a session cookie in PHP?
It is recommended to include a hash when setting a session cookie in PHP to enhance security and prevent cookie tampering. By including a hash, you can ensure the integrity of the session data and verify that it has not been altered by malicious users.
// Set session cookie with a hash
$sessionData = "your_session_data_here";
$hash = hash('sha256', $sessionData . 'your_secret_key_here');
setcookie('session_cookie', $sessionData . '|' . $hash, time() + 3600, '/');