Use the Apache .htaccess file to explicitly deny web access to files ending in .txt or starting with .ht .
Store the authentication file in a directory that is not accessible via a URL (e.g., above the /public_html/ or /www/ folder). New- Inurl Auth User File Txt Full
to attempt to brute-force the password hashes. Even if the passwords are not immediately cracked, the file provides a "clean wordlist" of valid usernames for further targeted attacks. Security Impact Use the Apache