What are the security implications of running PHP scripts at regular intervals without using a Cron job on a shared server?

Running PHP scripts at regular intervals without using a Cron job on a shared server can pose security risks as it allows for potential abuse by other users on the server. To mitigate this risk, you can implement a simple authentication mechanism within your PHP script to ensure that only authorized users can trigger the script.

<?php

$auth_token = 'your_secret_token';

if ($_GET['token'] !== $auth_token) {
    http_response_code(403);
    exit('Unauthorized');
}

// Your script code here

?>