How secure are files in the users home folder (before public_html)? I am interested in possibly writing a batch file that will backup sensative user's data to a folder on the server. And of course it wouldn't be in the public_html directory.

Just a simple way to provide remote backups for clients.

Well I suppose it ultimately depends upon the administrator, but I'd say fairly secure if done correctly. Backups often write to /home/backup or something similar.

Manual backups (by you) would be normally placed in the user's home directory (just before the public_html directory). This should be fairly easy to do and would not be accessible on the www (in the same way that you cannot browse your mail directory in your browser).

Um, are you serious that you dont already back up a users home directory? If anything, use the simple cpanel account backup feature. I see no reason to write anything new or special for what your asking to accomplish.

I guess he as talking about backing up clients PC data to his web space.

In general placing that above public_html should be ok. Of course unless someone manages to put a file browser script kind of thing on the web space.