PHP security

[evropa]

ive been reading an article on php security but i still have the following questions:
1) should i place my connect file(for php scripts) somewhere other then public html?

2) is it normal that users can access files if they know the exact name when i have set index as forbidden?

3) my htaccess file has some ban list which looks like the following:
RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} ^BlackWidow [OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} ^Bot\ mailto:craftbot@yahoo.com [OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} ^ChinaClaw [OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} ^Custo [OR]
RewriteCond %{HTTP_USER_AGENT} ^DISCo [OR]
RewriteRule ^.* - [F,L]
i didn't past the whole ban list, but my question is there something i should include in my htaccess to prevent attacks?

4) what files should be placed in public html and what shouldn't?
5) do password protected directories actually work? and when should they be used?

6) i am already validating my users using sessions, stripping slashes/html characters, and encrypting passwords should i be doing anything else?

7) any genereal suggestions on how to secure my files/web server?

[Xnuiem]

1) It depends. What is that file doing?
2) Yes. The index forbidden only means the webserver will not spit out a list of files in that directory if no file name is given and no default is set (or present)
3) Define "attacks"
4) Depends on how big your site is, your preferences, and what you are trying to do. You didnt really give enough info to make even a guess.
5) Sure they work. THere are a ton of ways of doing it though. Use them when you want to protect an entire directory.
6) Looks ok to me.
7) Since I know less about your website than I do about 14th century Litature, I coudlnt really say. Ensure you are permissioned correctly. Sanitize your inputs, and protect aginst XSS attacks.