My website's knickers are showing.

[webmaster using whb]

I just bought a new domain at a registrar and silver hosting package from WHB.

The only thing I've added to it so far is a folder called "Images," within which I created two more folders and within those uploaded a bunch of jpeg images. I hotlink the images on forums I frequent by giving particular websites permission to hotlink.

I obviously do not know much about websites, but expected there to be a blank page when visiting the main url by typing it into a webrowser, or perhaps least some kind of 400 error message. When I type it in (e.g. as http://www.google.com or http://google.com), however, this is what I see:

http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/4007/websitef.jpg

I'm able to click on all three of those links from a public computer and even browse every single image in my directory. Is this how files are supposed to display by default if I've created things as I've created them?

I can get rid of the "cgi-bin" and "Images" directory listings by changing their respective permissions within file manager to not include Read or Execute abilities under the World category. When I do the same for "postinfo.html," however, it still shows up. What's the deal? I can't get rid of it.

If I create a single html homepage, will it automatically replace this directory structure with the homepage? If so, where should I put it?

Thanks for any help!

[Maxim M.]

As an option, you can create a blank index.html page and upload it to public_html folder.
This way it will show an empty page instead of your folders list.

[Alan B]

Maxim's solution will work, as web browsers will show the blank index.html page rather than the directory listing. If you want to prevent your account showing directory listings in all directories (or in just ones you specify) even if there is no index page, you may change a setting in cPanel. You do not need to adjust file permissions.

[tjplaw]

If your the rightful owner of the images then password protect your image directory.

[Alan B]

If your the rightful owner of the images then password protect your image directory.

Not a good solution. That would block use of the images to anyone but a logged-in user. The OP said he links to these images from forums.

Two correct solutions were already provided, above.