Hotlink File Prevention (HFP) offers simple hotlink protection that can be turned on/off for individual files in the WordPress media library.
“Hotlinking” is when a file, such as an image or PDF, is linked to from another website or entered manually in a web browser’s location bar. HFP only allows your file to be viewed on your website.
Hotlink protection is provided via .htaccess rules in the wp-content/uploads directory.
Basic Usage
Once the HFP plugin is activated, you will have two new features in the media library:
- Within the Screen Options tab (list view only), check box for the “Hotlink Prevention” column.
- To protect a file, edit the file and scroll down to the checkbox labelled “Hotlink Protection”.
Any asset that is checked will have “Yes” displayed in the “Hotlink Prevention” column; otherwise, this column will be blank.
Note about “Open in new tab” option
When you use the “Open in new tab” option for links, WordPress adds rel="noreferrer", which effectively makes the link act like direct access, and the link will be blocked for files protected using HFP.