What security measures can be implemented, such as using .htaccess files, to protect sensitive information in PHP files?

Sensitive information in PHP files can be protected by using .htaccess files to restrict access to these files. By placing a .htaccess file in the directory containing the PHP files, you can deny access to anyone trying to directly access the files through the web browser. This adds an extra layer of security to prevent unauthorized users from viewing the sensitive information contained in the PHP files. ```apache # Deny access to PHP files <Files *.php> Order allow,deny Deny from all </Files> ```