Make files unavailable online

[Megg81]

Been a long while since I've been on ...
But quick question - short of simply removing (deleting) files and folders from the server, suggestions on a way to disable a website (client not paid) which could then be changed easily if they do make payment?
Change file permissions? change mapping of the domain?

In the past I've just deleted files and republished later if they do pay. But the site has been up a very long time and there's a lot on the server I'd rather not delete if not necessary to then give myself more work if I need to get it back on

[gwpriester]

Megg - This post is in non-Xara publishing which is the reason for the delay.

The simplest thing might be to rename the index file, index.old. And then if you get paid rename the index page as it was before, either index.htm or index.html

But wait for someone who knows what he is talking about to comment.

[gwpriester]

I moved this to Xara Web Publishing forum.

[Acorn]

Megg, the safest but requiring good guidance is to use CPanel > Files > Directory Privacy when you are using CPanel: https://docs.cpanel.net/cpanel/files/directory-privacy/.
An clearer example of the steps is https://www.liquidweb.com/kb/how-to-...ory-in-cpanel/.

Failing that it would be additions to the .htaccess file and the need to create a .htpasswd file manually.

Acorn

[Megg81]

Thanks - I'd not considered .htpasswd as an option.
Thanks both - you've been helping me out with ideas for a good 10yrs now!

[Spamiky]

I would replace the index.htm with my file where it will say that the hosting is temporarily disconnected.