Frameworks are secure by default in most respects, but deployment mistakes undo that.
DOCUMENT ROOT
Point the domain's document root at the application's /public folder, not the project root. If the project root is served, your .env file, vendor folder, storage and source code are all publicly reachable.
Change it in cPanel > Domains > Manage > Document Root.
THE .ENV FILE
It holds database credentials, mail passwords and application keys. It must never be reachable over HTTP. Verify by visiting https://yourdomain.com/.env and confirming you get a Forbidden or Not Found, never content.
DEBUG MODE
Set APP_DEBUG=false and APP_ENV=production in .env on any live site. Debug mode exposes environment variables, file paths and stack traces to anyone who triggers an error.
PERMISSIONS
storage and bootstrap/cache need to be writable, at 755, not 777.
OTHER ITEMS
Remove the .git folder from the server. Run composer install with --no-dev on production. Keep dependencies updated and run an audit periodically. Use the framework's built-in CSRF protection on every state-changing form. Set a strong, unique APP_KEY and do not reuse it between environments.
