If you run a website with images, videos, or downloadable files, you’ve probably noticed bandwidth creeping up even when your actual traffic seems steady. One common culprit: other sites linking directly to your media files. This practice, known as hotlinking, drains your server resources and can slow down your site for legitimate visitors. Fortunately, cPanel’s Hotlink Protection feature makes it easy to stop this cold.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what hotlinking is, how to enable Hotlink Protection in cPanel, how to configure allowed domains and file extensions, and what to do if legitimate sites get blocked. By the end, you’ll have a simple but effective line of defense running that saves bandwidth and keeps your content behind your intended audience.