PHP Programming Tips

http://www.countryside-alliance.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1504&Itemid=604

http://www.fishinghurts.com/pdfs/FishFeelPain.pdf

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2003/s846335.htm

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/10/1044725683181.html

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/04/30/fish.fear/index.html

http://www.doesgodexist.org/JanFeb01/AnimalPainAndTheCrueltyOfGod.html

http://www.firstscience.com/SITE/editor/024_ramblings_05092003.asp

Still learning about Network security and web page development. Currently Learning PHP and MySQL. Other than that, I am pretty much an HTML, JScript amatuer web designer. On my web site, I would like to be able to record and log the IP address of people who visit my site. Is this accomplished through code on a page, or by adding software to the server? And While I have you here reading, what programming is best for log in abilities (creating user names and passwords)? As I said, still learning, so any help is appreciated. Any references to tutorial sites, or books is also appreciated. I would like to learn as much as possible about web development, network security, and intrusion detection and prevention.
Thank you! ( And yes, I give best answer)

When you make a login form and then process the password and user name with a php script thats called by the form. Do you have to encrypt the data somehow before the form is submitted to the php script? I notice with a packet sniffer on my web site, to try and find out what will show, my password and username is clearly shown in the http header. Can anyone get that packet or is this transmition just between me the site? If not how can I encrypt it first? Can you show me an example, or a web page somewhere on this?

I have a website, and I am looking for a PHP login script that I can buy ($20.00 or less)or better yet, get for free. The script must have the following features:
*Easy to use / install
*Registration Chart that allows me to see how many people are logging in each week
*The ability to create user groups to categorize users *Individual group settings
*The ability to send my users individual emails
*Unique form validation that speaks for each error in part, so that the user does not have to retype everything back into the form if they have made a mistake while registering
*Security
*Mass mailing feature, to mail all users in a certain group
*The ability to find out when a user has logged in
*The ability to sort users into an active, inactive, or suspended status to allow usage of certain parts of the site
*Activation that forces users to confirm their membership via e-mail
*OPTIONAL: Remember me feature that allows users to be automatically logged in when they return, if they choose to

Can a php file ( that contains login processing information, such as: username and pass checking) that is on your website be downloaded or script seen? I’m looking into making my own web page cause I can’t find too much help and I notice a lot of the sensitive information is put into php files and Im unsure if thats secure and if not where do you put it?