When you host content online, you need to guard against unauthorized use of your server's resources. Leech Protection is a security feature designed to do exactly that. It prevents others from directly linking to files on your server (like images, videos, or downloads) from their own websites. This practice, known as "hotlinking" or "bandwidth theft," can slow down your site and increase your hosting costs without bringing any traffic to you.

Here’s how Leech Protection works and why it's essential:

• Blocks Unauthorized Links: It identifies requests for your files that do not originate from your own website. When a visitor tries to access a file via a link on another site, the request is blocked.
• Conserves Bandwidth: Your monthly bandwidth is a finite resource. Hotlinking consumes it rapidly. Leech Protection stops this drain, ensuring your bandwidth is used by your legitimate visitors.
• Protects Content: It helps maintain control over your digital assets, preventing others from freely using your files.

To implement it, you typically configure it in your hosting control panel (like cPanel). You can often specify allowed domains (like your own) and set actions for violators, such as redirecting them to a different page or displaying an error message. Enabling this feature is a crucial step in managing your web hosting resources efficiently and safeguarding your online presence.