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Error 404 when trying to password protect administrator folder in Joomla using Apache htaccess

When protecting the administrator folder in Joomla using Apache htaccess to increase the security of the website (which by the way is a good thing to do to prevent too interested individuals to peek where they shouldn’t), you might get an error 404 message when trying to access administrator and the expected password prompt never appears.

The cause can be that the server is configured to allow user defined error pages stored in for example the error folder. If some of the error files are missing the above mentioned problem can occur. Make sure you have the correct folder name and file names for your error files.

This particular problem occured for me when I moved a Joomla site from one hosting provider to another and by mistake also replaced the error folder with the one from the old hosting provider which had a completely different file name structure for the error message files.

Internet related threats

On http://www.cromwell-intl.com/security/ you will find a number of articles related to Computer System and Network security. It covers chryptography, privacy tools, computer forensics, authentication, intrusion detection and network monitoring.

GRC Shields Up! tests your firewall from the outside and reports what you are exposing to the Internet.

At CERT, Computer Emergency Response Team, you will find up to date information about security related issues like newly discovered vulnerabilities. Stay updated!