Updated: 28 September 2026 · Applies to: cPanel & WHM 138 (Jupiter theme)
Hotlinking is when another website shows your images or files by linking straight to them, using your bandwidth. Hotlink Protection blocks those requests.
Steps
- Log in to cPanel (for example at
https://yourdomain.com:2083, or from the Ucartz client area). - Open Security › Hotlink Protection and click Enable.
- Check URLs to allow access. It lists your own domains; add any other site that may use your files, such as a CDN or your shop.
- In Block direct access for the following extensions, list the file types to protect, for example
jpg,jpeg,gif,png,webp,mp4. - Tick Allow direct requests so people can still open a file by typing its address.
- Optionally enter a Redirect the request to the following URL address (for example a small "image not available" picture), then click Submit.
Note: Hotlink protection relies on the browser's Referer header, so it stops casual hotlinking, not determined copying. Test that your own pages, apps and email newsletters still load images afterwards.
