Error 403 Forbidden: What does it mean

Error 403: concept, features, methods of correction

Traveling through the Internet is not only studying useful information, reading interesting articles and watching entertaining videos. Often, the user has to deal with troubles. One of them is the server error 403 forbidden. Why does it appear? What is hidden behind its code designation? What actions should be taken to eliminate it?

General concept

Code 403 forbidden is a server response indicating that the user does not have access rights to a certain network resource. There are many reasons for such a response, elimination is possible only after analyzing a specific situation, there are no universal instructions.

It should be noted that this error is generally not very serious. Sometimes it is temporary, disappears on its own, without requiring additional manipulations, in other cases - the simplest actions, adjustments to the settings are required.

Probable causes

Ideally, the 403 forbidden server error should only appear if a user who does not have the appropriate rights tries to access a network resource. Reality, unfortunately, is far from ideal, and therefore the list of possible causes of the failure is much wider, including the following categories:

• Incorrect operation of the user device;
• Incorrect configuration of network resource components;
• Restrictions established by the organization providing network access services.

Each of the listed categories requires a more detailed study.

User-side failures

As already noted, the “standard” error display scenario is the server’s response to the actions of a visitor who does not have the right to view certain pages, sites, or files hosted on them. Such pages may be, for example, service pages accessible only to administrators. The following reasons are also possible:

• Lack of authorization, authentication, authorization. Some sites “agree” to work exclusively with registered, authorized visitors who have specified a minimum set of personal data and logged in using a name and password. They are closed to unregistered clients.
• Incorrect entry of the page address. Errors are usually hidden in the details, so you need to carefully study the link – is there an extra character in it.
• Operation of antivirus applications, firewalls. It is possible that the antivirus installed on the user's computer or smartphone considers the site suspicious and blocks the transition.
• Incorrect operation of the device from which the login is performed. Outdated cookies, overloaded cache, restrictions on data transfer over a mobile network or activation of the traffic saving mode, which is relevant for smartphones - there are many options.

Failures on the site administrator's side

In this case, error 403 appears for the following reasons:

• Absence, incorrect spelling of the index file name. As a rule, we are talking about the “index” file with the php or html extension.
• Incorrect placement of network resource files. They must be in the root folder, other options exclude the possibility of direct access to them by the web server, which leads to the display of the error.
• Incorrect configuration of access rights to directories and files, due to which the server cannot interact with them.
• Incorrect operation of plugins and extensions. This is especially true for sites created on the popular WordPress platform. The administrator must be attentive to the search for extensions, update them in a timely manner, and reinstall them.
• Using inappropriate PHP versions and other tools required for configuring and managing the site. The versions may be outdated or incompatible with the software installed on the server.

Provider-side failures

In this category, the following causes the 403 error to appear:

• Termination of service to a network resource. For example, a provider may block access due to the site owner's failure to fulfill their obligations, lack of timely payment, or posting content that violates copyright.
• Untimely update of the DNS server cache. Error 403 appears in the event of a recent move of a network resource to a new address, if the DNS server continues to use old information from the cache.
• Technical failures. Failure of the main server equipment, communication line breaks, incorrect software operation.
• Geographical restrictions. Some sites are unavailable to users from certain countries.

How to fix the failure?

The error troubleshooting algorithm is determined by the reasons that led to its occurrence. The most common situations need to be considered in detail.

User instructions

A user who encounters a problem needs to do the following:

• Check access rights. It is quite possible that to go to the desired site or page, it is enough to go through authorization or register, spending a few seconds on this. In rare cases, you have to write to the site administrator so that he removes the block issued by mistake, or indicates the impossibility of this action, explaining the reason.
• Clear the cache and cookies. This is done through the browser settings.
• Check the browser settings. It would be a good idea to install the latest version of the software, make sure that the site was not mistakenly included in the block list.
• Disable or, conversely, activate the VPN.
• Check the spelling of the page you are looking for. Perhaps there was an extra bracket or an unnoticeable punctuation mark in the address bar.
• Try another device. The site does not open from a laptop? You should try to log in from a smartphone.
• Call the provider. Perhaps the organization providing network access services knows what the 403 error is associated with and is already taking a set of measures aimed at its speedy elimination.
• Check the antivirus. Perhaps the site was included in the block lists. If you are sure it is safe, you should delete it.
• Connect via another network. If the site does not open via home Wi-Fi, you can try to access it via one of the public networks, or via your smartphone's mobile network.

Administrator instructions

If the 403 forbidden error is not related to the user side, but to the administrator side, then the following actions will help:

• Check the correctness of the server access rights settings. Each user group should have its own rights, whether it is reading, changing pages, uploading new files, posting news, photos, videos and other content.
• Check the correctness of the main server settings. If errors have crept into the configuration, difficulties with access will inevitably arise. First of all, you need to carefully study the files with the “.htaccess” extension, they are responsible for access to certain areas of the network resource.
• Check the correctness of the security algorithms and programs. Sometimes they automatically switch to the most severe mode, excluding unauthorized access, in which case it is enough to “roll back” to the default settings, which are more lenient.
• Analysis of web server logs. An experienced administrator, having studied the logs, can easily identify events that indirectly or directly influenced the occurrence of errors.
• Disabling WordPress plugins. Perhaps newly installed plugins are incompatible with the site and interfere with its normal operation. The problem is also relevant if updates are not timely.
• Moving site files to root directories. If they are placed differently, they are inaccessible.

Preventive measures

As you know, any error is easier to prevent than to hastily eliminate the causes that provoked its occurrence. Administrators who want to protect visitors and users of the site from the unpleasant inscription "forbidden" should adhere to the following principles:

• Fine-tuning access rights. This is the basis for the correct operation of the network resource. It is necessary to check all files, directories and catalogs, make sure that the permissions are correct. Each user, be it a simple visitor, a marketer or an owner, must have certain rights.
• Correct configuration of the file with the permission ".htaccess". It is in it that the basic principles are saved, according to which access is carried out. Incorrect indication of directives leads to the fact that either the entire network resource as a whole, or its individual categories, pages are inaccessible. File directives must correspond to the specifics of the site, the features of its use.
• Exclusion of blocking by IP addresses. This method of restricting access is an effective security measure, however, you should not get too carried away with it. Incorrect use leads to the fact that the 403 forbidden error appears even when a legal, verified user tries to enter the site. It is necessary to make sure that access from the correct IP addresses is not blocked, firewalls, antiviruses and other applications that ensure the security of the network resource function correctly.

Of course, administrators need to update server software in a timely manner. This approach will not only eliminate the risk of 403 errors, but also guarantee security, eliminate unnecessary risks and vulnerabilities. Practice shows that the absence of even one update that does not look important and significant leads to serious errors.

A responsible approach by administrators not only eliminates errors, but also has a positive effect on the overall perception of the site by users, contributes to the growth of its traffic, attractiveness for advertisers.

Author of the article:

Editor-in-Chief

Danaev Almaz