Protect Sensitive Directories/Files - Using an Index.html File


CSI Staff
Staff Writer
Center for Support of Instruction

Category: » Tech-skills-software » Security

Add an index.html Page to a Directory that Contains Sensitive Files

If you store files on the Polaris or Nova servers, you can use an index.html page to block access to a directory. This method is a little more complicated then just adding text to WebTycho, but is relatively easy and provides you with the flexibility of using URLS in the WebTycho classroom.

When using an index.html page it is best to put all sensitive files in one folder. For example you could create a folder called exams and place all of your exams in that folder.

Directory Listing

Directory/Folders saved on Polaris/Nova

Listing of Senstive Files

Files saved inside the exam directory.

 

1. Using your HTML editor (i.e., Netscape Composer, Dreamweaver) create an HTML document called index.html. You create index.html just as you would any other web page. Type the text you feel is appropriate and design the page to your liking.

Listing of Index page

2. Save the file as index.html and publish to the folder that contains your sensitive files.

Listing of Index with Exam

In this example, WS-FTP was used to publish index.html to Polaris/Nova, however, you can use which ever FTP program you desire.  See the Tech Skills/Software category for tutorials on various FTP programs.

3. Open browser (i.e., Netscape, IE) and try to access the folder you added the index page to in Step 2. When you try to access the folder that you saved the index.html page, you should no longer be able to see all the files stored in that folder.

Index Error Page

It is a good idea to create an index page for the root of your polaris account. To do this you need create an index.html file and place it in the www directory. If you have sensitive files in different folders, you will need to create an index page for each folder.
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