What alternative tools or methods can be used to enhance security when using PHP for website development, especially in light of vulnerabilities like those in FileZilla?

One way to enhance security when using PHP for website development, especially in light of vulnerabilities like those in FileZilla, is to avoid storing sensitive information, such as passwords, directly in the code. Instead, utilize environment variables or configuration files outside of the web root to store this information securely. This helps prevent potential leaks of sensitive data if the code is compromised.

// Example of using environment variables to store sensitive information

$db_host = getenv('DB_HOST');
$db_username = getenv('DB_USERNAME');
$db_password = getenv('DB_PASSWORD');
$db_name = getenv('DB_NAME');

// Connect to the database using the retrieved environment variables
$conn = new mysqli($db_host, $db_username, $db_password, $db_name);

// Perform database operations securely