The Hotlink Protection interface is a vital security feature that helps you prevent other websites from directly embedding and using your website’s content—such as images, videos, or files—without your permission.
What is Hotlinking?
Hotlinking occurs when another website links directly to files hosted on your server (like images, videos, or documents) and displays them on their site by referencing your URLs. This means:
- They use your bandwidth every time someone visits their site.
- You bear the cost of the extra data transfer.
- It can slow down your website or cause unexpected overage charges.
Why Enable Hotlink Protection?
- Save Bandwidth: Protect your server resources and reduce hosting costs.
- Preserve Website Performance: Avoid unnecessary server load caused by unauthorized requests.
- Protect Your Content: Control how and where your content appears on the internet.
- Maintain SEO Integrity: Prevent duplicate content issues that can arise from unauthorized use.
How Hotlink Protection Works:
Once enabled, the server checks the “referrer” header in the requests for your files. It allows access only if the request comes from your domain or authorized domains you specify. Requests coming from other domains are blocked or redirected to a placeholder image or error message.
How to Use the Hotlink Protection Interface:
- Access the Hotlink Protection page in cPanel.
- Specify which file types you want to protect (commonly images like .jpg, .png, .gif).
- List the URLs allowed to hotlink your content—usually your own domain(s) and any trusted partners.
- Set a redirect URL (optional): Visitors trying to hotlink your files can be redirected to a warning page or alternative image.
- Enable protection with a single click.
Tips for Using Hotlink Protection:
- Add all variations of your domain (with and without www) to the allowed list.
- Include any third-party services that legitimately use your files.
- Test your website after enabling protection to ensure no legitimate content is blocked.
At Govaio.com, all hosting plans include easy access to Hotlink Protection via cPanel, helping you safeguard your bandwidth and digital assets effortlessly.