Updated syntax to apache 2.4. version.

[Vakrug]

Related to issue #313. Removed old 2.2. syntax and updated with the equivalent 2.4. syntax.

[eugene-borovov]

Why not do it as in the default configuration?

#
# The following lines prevent .htaccess and .htpasswd files from being 
# viewed by Web clients. 
#
<Files ".ht*">
    Require all denied
</Files>

[Vakrug]

Why not do it as in the default configuration?

Because ".ht*" and ".htaccess" are different things, as the comment says (.htpasswd exists). This redirection to index page have nothing to do with .htpasswd.

[eugene-borovov]

This directive denies access to files with name starts with .ht. This rule is usually placed in the server settings, not the host. As you mentioned in the issue this directive could be deleted.

For redirection you only need rewrite rules.

<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
  # Redirect to the public folder
  RewriteEngine On
  # RewriteBase /
  RewriteRule ^$ public/ [L]
  RewriteRule (.*) public/$1 [L]

  # Redirect to HTTPS
  # RewriteEngine On
  # RewriteCond %{HTTPS} off
  # RewriteRule ^(.*)$ https://%{HTTP_HOST}%{REQUEST_URI} [L,R=301]
</IfModule>

[Vakrug]

OK, I deleted this directive.