This page is part of the Guide to using the WebCom File Manager. It explains how to use the File Manager to permit public access to files in your account through FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

Changing Permissions

To change access permissions to files through FTP, select the pr (public read) and/or pw (public write) checkboxes and hit the "Submit Changes" button. If you have also chosen to delete one or more files, a "Confirm Delections" screen will be displayed after this button is selected. Otherwise, the File Listing Screen will be redisplayed with the altered permissions.

WARNING: allowing public write access to files or directories is a security risk. Malicious individuals may take advantage of this to distribute illicit material, such as pornography and "pirated" software. Files in a "publicly writable" directory may have their contents altered by a user uploading another file of the same name, regardless of the access permissions of the file itself. This also applies to individual files made "publicly writeable".

Furthermore, files may be placed in a "publicly writable" directory without your permission or knowledge (they will not be accessible through FTP, but if the directory is located under the "www" directory, they will be accessible to users visiting your site through the WWW). In general, you will almost never want to make an individual file publicly writeable, and only rarely will you want to make a directory publicly writable.

Most of the browsers we've tested so far support the ability to change permissions. However, directories with large numbers of files may cause problems. Some files towards the end of these will not have checkboxes displayed next to them, and thus you will not be able to delete these files or change their permissions.

For more information on possible problems you may experience, see Troubleshooting.