Hi I am trying to upload some confidential php scripts and I don't want people to be able to access it at all. I also don't like the idea of .htaccess since if it fails, someone might just look at all my passwords and that's the end. If I place my confidential files one directory higher than my root directory, will people be able to access it? PHP is so vast, is there any header or anything that can access files one directory higher than it?
I think .htaccess is your best bet. I know you said it fails, but it will only fail if you delete it or move to a webserver that doesn't support it.