Need of .htaccess file

.htaccess files may be used by all of our customers to manipulate the Apache web server, a powerful part of our Linux hosting service . You have full access to .htaccess on all of our Linux web hosting plans which include Semi Dedicated Servers as well.

      .htaccess offers webmasters a new level of control over their hosting thereby allowing them to take charge. Simple server-side Apache directives can allow you to set up countless unique features, few of those are :

* Password protected folders
* Custom error pages
* Blocking specific IPs
* Blocking specific users and sites
* Add new MIME types
* Prevent / allow directory listings
* 301 redirects (search spider safe)
* Change your default index page
* Control hotlinking abuse
* Rewrite dynamic pages as static