File permissions control who can read, write, or execute files on your hosting server. Set them wrong, and you could leave your site open to hacks or crashes.

Permissions are usually displayed in numbers like 755 or 644. These numbers define what owners, groups, and others can do to your files or folders.

For example, 644 is safe for files — it allows the site to read them but prevents unauthorized edits. Folders often use 755, giving the system permission to access and execute files within.

Changing permissions is easy through cPanel’s file manager or an FTP client. Just be careful — giving “write” access to everyone (777) is a huge security risk.

Need a breakdown of the safest permission settings? best vps hosting has a beginner-friendly guide to file permissions for different types of websites and hosting platforms.