403 Forbidden is a HTTP status code indicating that the client does not have permission to access the requested resource on the server.
In these cases, the server understands the request but refuses to authorize it for various access control reasons.
Here are some examples of why someone might receive a 403 Forbidden status code:
- Blocked IP Address – A 403 error may indicate the server has blacklisted the client’s IP address, usually due to previous malicious requests.
- Exceeded Usage Limits – If rate limiting policies or monthly request quotas have been exceeded, the server may respond with 403 to prevent overuse.
- Invalid Credentials – Incorrect or missing authentication details during an attempt to access administrator or user privileged content could trigger a 403 error.
- Unverified Account – Some sites forbid access until the user’s email or account is verified through a confirmation link.
- Locked Account – Disabled, locked out, or suspended user accounts may receive 403 errors when login attempts fail related to that status.
- Directory Listing – Servers normally forbid the browsing of directories without an index file, denying access with a 403 to prevent an exposed file structure.
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