What potential pitfalls should be considered when using cron jobs in PHP for time-based tasks like sending automated emails after a certain period?

One potential pitfall when using cron jobs in PHP for time-based tasks like sending automated emails is ensuring that the cron job script is secure and cannot be accessed by unauthorized users. To mitigate this risk, it is recommended to place the cron job script outside the web root directory to prevent direct access.

<?php
// Secure cron job script for sending automated emails

// Place this script outside the web root directory to prevent direct access
// For example, save this script as /var/www/cron/send_emails.php

// Your email sending logic goes here
// Example:
// mail('recipient@example.com', 'Subject', 'Message');
?>