.htaccess is a special Apache file that tells your website how to function.
You can edit the existing .htaccess file on your site, or you can create a new text file in any directory and name it .htaccess
How can I secure my .htaccess file?
The file is already protected; it will be forbidden to browsers. To be very sure, double check that the file is named ".htaccess" and not "htaccess" nor "htaccess.txt". (It must start with a dot.)
Can I delete my .htaccess file permanently?
You can delete the .htaccess file, but it will reappear immediately as a blank file.
Centroot has default directives which will always be in place, unless you create your own directives to overrule ours.
Example
Centroot uses this code as a default, even if you erase and remove the .htaccess file.
You can override those defaults by creating your own rules.
Online Guides
If you do not code this file correctly, it can cause website errors.
Guides to dot-htaccess coding:
whoishostingthis.com
javascriptkit.com
apache.org
modrewrite.com
Great resource for mod rewrite lessons
Great resource for mod rewrite examples