title: Apache .htaccess to redirect index.html to root, why FollowSymlinks and RewriteBase?
body: <p>In order to redirect all <code>somefolder/index.html</code> (and also <code>somefolder/index.htm</code>) to <code>somefolder/</code> I use this simple rewrite rule in Apache .htaccess file:</p>
  
  <pre><code>RewriteEngine on
  RewriteCond %{THE_REQUEST} ^.*\/index\.html?\ HTTP/
  RewriteRule ^(.*)index\.html?$ "/$1" [R=301,L]
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This works well!</p>
  
  <p>But at <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/only-validation/web/fix-canonical-issues-www-vs-non-www-and-more-on-apache-server?pli=1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Google groups</a> they suggest to add also:</p>
  
  <pre><code>Options +FollowSymlinks 
  RewriteBase / 
  </code></pre>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p><strong>Could anyone be so kind to explain me why would i have to add these last lines, and explain me a bit what they mean and what they do?</strong></p></li>
  <li><p>Is there a potential secuirty risk in not adding these lines?</p></li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>Many thanks,</p>