using a new .htaccess file to allow specific access?

Hi,
In a product description text I have an embedded link.

This opens a javascript popup next to the product description which loads an html file from

includes/languages/english/html_includes/CUSTOM/ht_product_advisor_en.html

(this file loads a constantly-updated swf reference file from a supplier).

Sounds a bit convoluted but it works very well. Or rather it did.

Now with the 139b .htaccess restrictions this direct access is blocked.

If I put another .htaccess file in the includes/languages/english/html_includes/CUSTOM/ directory containing this code:

<FilesMatch "ht_product_advisor_en.html">
  Allow from all
</FilesMatch>

It works fine.

So my questions are

1. Is there are better solution for the whole idea?
2. If not, is the .htaccess code ok or should I be putting this html file somewhere else completely (download folder?)

Thanks

I strongly recommend that you relocate your .html file to another folder whose intended purpose IS already for public viewing, such as perhaps the /media/ folder, or create another for that purpose.

The html_includes folder is really only intended for internal system use, and using it for public access is ill-advised, esp since what you've done actually discloses infrastructure details to every visitor, and can thus invite hackers or probing bots, etc.

I thought it was wrong,

thanks for the confirmation,

Steve