How do I set up a password-protected private blog?

There are a number of different ways to set up something like this, primarily revolving around how your specific Web server works with security, but let me highlight two possible solutions.

The first is if you're running the popular Apache Web server, in which case you can set up a password protected directory and install your new weblog (or have an admin install it) into that directory.

I have a couple of articles that will get you going in that case:

• How to use Apache .htaccess to password protect a directory
• How to password protect Web pages

The other solution is dependent on what weblog software you're using. With the popular hosted weblog program TypePad, password protecting your weblog is just a simple click of an option checkbox:

To password protect your Typepad weblog, log in to Typepad then click on the Control Panel tab and choose Password protect a site frmo the list of shortcuts.

Now, you'll need to:

1. Chose what you want to protect (in this case it'll be "entire site")
2. Check the Protected? box
3. Enter a user name and password (all visitors will use the same user name and password, so use a new password, not the one you use to administer your Typepad weblog!)
4. Click on Save Changes.

That's all there is to it. Your weblog should now be saved.

If you're running a web server other than Apache or a weblog tool other than Typepad, consult with the administration team or developers: odds are good that there's another simple solution to your problem.