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PHP

May Loh
May Loh
5,213 Points
Posted by May Loh
May Loh
5,213 Points

MAMP and Possible Security Issues

I've recently started the PHP Development track and I would need to install MAMP to proceed. There are any security issues that I need to be aware of? I read that I would need to configure port forwarding to hide my VM so that no one outside would be able to get access into my VM. How do I configure port forwarding?

1 Answer

Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw
26,676 Points
Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw
26,676 Points

Hi Kia,

Out of the box there are no security risks involved, if you're installing MAMP Pro it will open with a select box on the main screen that gives you the option to lock down the server to apache:mysql instead of user:user which gives the server full access to your HDD which isn't a bad thing as I like to work outside of my sites folder which can become quite cluttered if you're storing a lot of projects in it.

The reason they give you this option is to protect your Mac if you're connecting to public Wi-Fi which prevents outsiders from gaining access to your private files but typically you would have your mobile on you so tethering is a much safer option.

Also forwarding ports isn't required at all, by default port 8888 (80 if you use the standard Apache port) is blocked in all routers (or at least it should be) therefore no one outside of your personal network can see MAMP running on your Mac.

May Loh
May Loh
5,213 Points
May Loh
May Loh
5,213 Points

Hi Chris,

And if I'm only using MAMP and not MAMP Pro?

Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw
26,676 Points
Chris Shaw
Chris Shaw
26,676 Points

MAMP by itself is perfectly safe to use as the services by default run as apache:mysql and you can only execute files within your ~/Applications/MAMP/htdocs folder.