Denying IP Addresses with .htaccess

To deny specific IP addresses access to your website using the .htaccess file, you can follow these steps:

1. Access Your .htaccess File:

   • Log in to your cPanel account.
   • Navigate to File Manager.
   • Locate and open the public_html directory (or the directory where your WordPress installation is).
   • Find the .htaccess file. If it’s hidden, ensure you enable Show Hidden Files (dotfiles) in the settings.

2. Edit Your .htaccess File:

   • Right-click on the .htaccess file and select Edit.
   • If prompted, confirm to edit the file.

3. Add Deny Rules:

   • At the top or bottom of the .htaccess file, add the following lines to deny specific IP addresses:
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   # Deny access to specific IP addresses Order Deny,Allow Deny from 123.456.789.000 Deny from 111.222.333.444

   Replace 123.456.789.000 and 111.222.333.444 with the actual IP addresses you want to block.

4. Save Changes:

   • Click Save Changes to apply your modifications.

Example

Here’s how the relevant section of your .htaccess file might look:

Notes

• You can deny multiple IP addresses by adding more Deny from lines.
• If you want to allow all other IP addresses while denying certain ones, ensure the Order Deny,Allow line is included.
• To deny a range of IP addresses, you can use wildcards. For example, Deny from 123.456.789 will block all IPs starting with 123.456.789.

Conclusion

Using .htaccess to deny IP addresses is a straightforward way to enhance your website's security. If you encounter any issues, double-check the syntax and ensure your .htaccess file is correctly formatted.