Will Google penalize me for password protecting my CSS files?

domainpush · 05-21-2011, 03:08 PM

The title says it all. Just curious if I could password protect my CSS files without loosing rank in Google. Also, I assume the browsers will still be able to see them correct?

defaultuser · 05-21-2011, 04:44 PM

Not sure how if they are password protected a browser will see them as they need to be sent with the HTML. If you mean the HTML/CSS and that area of the site is password protected then nothing is accessible or everything is.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/web-design-discussion/715725-will-google-penalize-me-password-protecting.html

For the former - just hiding CSS.

One solution I've seen used is to rewrite *.css as *.php and then included a PHP session check before the stylesheet. Another is to simply have a rewrite rule that shows a 403 with direct access if the referrer is not yourdomain.

You can also obfuscate/encrypt the pages.

Not sure what you have that is so valuable. If the design is valuable it will be easily copied anyway as the source all has to be rendered on the browser. You can make it hard to read.. but it's the design that has value not the CSS.

domainpush · 05-21-2011, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by defaultuser

Not sure how if they are password protected a browser will see them as they need to be sent with the HTML. If you mean the HTML/CSS and that area of the site is password protected then nothing is accessible or everything is.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/showthread.php?t=715725

For the former - just hiding CSS.

One solution I've seen used is to rewrite *.css as *.php and then included a PHP session check before the stylesheet. Another is to simply have a rewrite rule that shows a 403 with direct access if the referrer is not yourdomain.

You can also obfuscate/encrypt the pages.

Not sure what you have that is so valuable. If the design is valuable it will be easily copied anyway as the source all has to be rendered on the browser. You can make it hard to read.. but it's the design that has value not the CSS.

Kewl, thanks for the advice on this. It's not that its valuable, just to help cut down on those who only want to copy. At least with that process you can nip out a few newbies and etc.

Anyways, thanks again!

subelahi · 07-13-2011, 07:41 AM

google has nothing to do with your CSS, It will not effect your position in google

05-21-2011, 03:08 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
domainpush NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 447	Will Google penalize me for password protecting my CSS files? The title says it all. Just curious if I could password protect my CSS files without loosing rank in Google. Also, I assume the browsers will still be able to see them correct? __________________ Submit Articles - Article Directory - Find Articles Best Dropshipper Web Designer For Hire! Beckin Designs Free Calorie Counter Calorie Counter

05-21-2011, 04:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
defaultuser Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: internet@ctivist.com Posts: 4,797	Not sure how if they are password protected a browser will see them as they need to be sent with the HTML. If you mean the HTML/CSS and that area of the site is password protected then nothing is accessible or everything is. ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/web-design-discussion/715725-will-google-penalize-me-password-protecting.html For the former - just hiding CSS. One solution I've seen used is to rewrite .css as .php and then included a PHP session check before the stylesheet. Another is to simply have a rewrite rule that shows a 403 with direct access if the referrer is not yourdomain. You can also obfuscate/encrypt the pages. Not sure what you have that is so valuable. If the design is valuable it will be easily copied anyway as the source all has to be rendered on the browser. You can make it hard to read.. but it's the design that has value not the CSS. __________________ A Member of: IdeationTeam.com HowToBeADomainer.com - a Domaining How To AuthorEditor.com

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07-13-2011, 07:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
subelahi New Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 14	google has nothing to do with your CSS, It will not effect your position in google

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