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How to Block Crawlers Exploiting “down ext:php”

Jonathan Dough

Ever looked at your server logs and found strange requests like “down ext:php”? You’re not alone. These are made by bots or crawlers poking around your site, trying to find vulnerable files. Let’s break down what’s happening, and how you can stop it—without needing a computer science degree.

What Is “down ext:php”?

This phrase is a type of Google dork. Crawlers (and sometimes hackers) use it to search for downloadable PHP files. These files might accidentally expose sensitive information or give access to parts of your server that should stay hidden.

When bots use Google to find “down ext:php”, they’re basically asking: “Hey Google, show me any page that makes it obvious something can be downloaded and ends in .php.” Then, they go knocking on your door.

Why Is This Bad?

Your site might not have anything juicy—but bots don’t know that until they try. Here’s what they might be after:

Even if you’re squeaky clean, their traffic eats up resources, clutters logs, and in rare cases, they could find something dangerous.

Step-by-Step: How to Block These Crawlers

The great news? You can fight back. No swords or shields required. Just follow these simple steps.

1. Disallow via robots.txt

This is like putting up a “Do Not Enter” sign. It won’t stop bad crawlers, but it keeps the nice ones away (like Googlebot).

User-agent: *
Disallow: /*down

This tells all bots: “Hey, don’t even think about crawling URLs with down in them.”

2. Use .htaccess for a Real Block

If you’re on Apache, this is your secret weapon. You can use an .htaccess file to kick unwanted bots to the curb.

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} ^.*down.*$ [NC]
RewriteRule ^.*$ - [F,L]

This says: “If a request has the word down in it, give them a big fat 403 Forbidden.”

3. Block Specific User-Agents

Some crawlers identify themselves. You can target them directly:

SetEnvIfNoCase User-Agent "crawler" bad_bot
Deny from env=bad_bot

Replace “crawler” with the exact user-agent name if you know it. For example: “python-requests” or “libwww-perl”.

4. Monitor with Fail2Ban

Want a bouncer for your site? Fail2Ban watches your logs and blocks IPs that are up to no good.

Set it up to detect weird URLs like “down ext:php” and block repeat offenders. It’s like teaching your server karate.

5. Filter URLs in Your Web App

If you control the code, add a basic filter:

if (strpos($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'], 'down') !== false) {
  header('HTTP/1.0 403 Forbidden');
  exit;
}

This blocks sketchy requests without relying on the web server. Code ninjas, this one’s for you.

Extra Tips to Stay Ahead

Keep your site in top shape to avoid becoming a target.

How to Know It’s Working

So you’ve added blocks—now what? You want proof it’s working. Here’s how to check:

Each of these tells you: “Yup, your walls are holding up.”

A Quick Recap

Let’s recap the action plan.

  1. Edit your robots.txt file to dissuade good bots.
  2. Add .htaccess rules to block based on keywords.
  3. Target bad bots by User-Agent if they play fair.
  4. Use logging tools like Fail2Ban to auto-ban weirdos.
  5. Filter sketchy requests in your code before they do anything.

Bonus Move: Use a Firewall

If you really want to level up, web application firewalls (WAFs) are superheroes in disguise. These live in front of your website and filter out garbage traffic. Tools like:

They can detect and block weird requests like “down ext:php” automatically. No sweat required.

Final Thoughts

Strange crawlers are like raccoons—you never invited them, but they show up anyway. Luckily, you’ve got the tools to keep your digital trash can sealed shut.

So take 10–15 minutes today. Add some blocks. Review your logs. Give your website a mini makeover. It’ll thank you in speed, security, and peace of mind.

Now go shoo those bots away like a pro!

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