diff --git a/spsp b/spsp
index aed4ce2a348e94e25d832df3b0825b0cd42cb6b3..5ed9a71914715d19048f68ef5062155344ff1852 100755
--- a/spsp
+++ b/spsp
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # SPSP transfer-tool is developed and maintained by SIB. For more information, please contact spsp-support@sib.swiss
 
-VERSION="1.11.0" # bumped to support spsp --help, spsp --version
+VERSION="1.12.0" # bumped to support spsp --help, spsp --version
 
 # Define colors that are used in the help screen
 
@@ -120,14 +120,14 @@ initMode() {
   if [ ! -x "$(command -v sftp)" ]; then
     printf "${BACK_RED} ERROR ${COL_RESET} ${COL_RED}Stopped with 1 error${COL_RESET} ${COL_GREY} ${TIME} ${COL_RESET}\n"
     printf "${BACK_RED} error ${COL_RESET} command unavailable: the sftp command is not available on this system and is mandatory for the pipeline.\n"
-    printf "${BACK_CYAN} INFO ${COL_RESET} Check out OpenSSH at ${COL_CYAN}https://www.openssh.com/${COL_RESET}"
+    printf "${BACK_CYAN} INFO ${COL_RESET} Check out OpenSSH at ${COL_CYAN} https://www.openssh.com/ ${COL_RESET}"
     exit 22
   fi
 
   if [ ! -x "$(command -v nc)" ]; then
     printf "${BACK_RED} ERROR ${COL_RESET} ${COL_RED}Stopped with 1 error${COL_RESET} ${COL_GREY} ${TIME} ${COL_RESET}\n"
     printf "${BACK_RED} error ${COL_RESET} command unavailable: the nc command is not available on this system and is mandatory for the pipeline.\n"
-    printf "${BACK_CYAN} INFO ${COL_RESET} Check out Netcat at ${COL_CYAN}http://netcat.sourceforge.net/${COL_RESET}"
+    printf "${BACK_CYAN} INFO ${COL_RESET} Check out Netcat at ${COL_CYAN} http://netcat.sourceforge.net/ ${COL_RESET}"
     exit 22
   fi
 
@@ -841,6 +841,21 @@ if [ $# -gt 0 ]; then
     echo " -  Ignoring .env file..."
   else
     if [ -f .env ]; then
+      if [ "$MACHINE" == "linux" ]; then
+          if [ "$(stat -c "%a" .env)" != "600" ]; then
+            printf "${BACK_RED} ERROR ${COL_RESET} ${COL_RED}Stopped with 1 error${COL_RESET} ${COL_GREY} ${TIME} ${COL_RESET}\n"
+            printf "${BACK_RED} error ${COL_RESET} permissions incorrect: the configuration file should be configured with 600 permissions (chmod 600 .env).\n"
+            printf "${BACK_CYAN} INFO ${COL_RESET} More info at ${COL_CYAN} https://gitlab.sib.swiss/SPSP/transfer-tool/-/wikis/Installation#configure-the-env-file ${COL_RESET}"
+            exit 22
+          fi
+        elif [ "$MACHINE" == "mac" ]; then
+          if [ "$(stat -f "%Lp" .env)" != "600" ]; then
+              printf "${BACK_RED} ERROR ${COL_RESET} ${COL_RED}Stopped with 1 error${COL_RESET} ${COL_GREY} ${TIME} ${COL_RESET}\n"
+              printf "${BACK_RED} error ${COL_RESET} permissions incorrect: the configuration file should be configured with 600 permissions (chmod 600 .env).\n"
+              printf "${BACK_CYAN} INFO ${COL_RESET} More info at ${COL_CYAN} https://gitlab.sib.swiss/SPSP/transfer-tool/-/wikis/Installation#configure-the-env-file ${COL_RESET}"
+              exit 22
+            fi
+        fi
       source .env
     else
       echo " -  Creating a new .env file..."
@@ -852,6 +867,7 @@ if [ $# -gt 0 ]; then
           echo "ID=$identifier" >.env
           echo 'HOST=spsp.sib.swiss' >>.env
           echo 'SFTP_URL=${ID}@${HOST}:data' >>.env
+          chmod 600 .env
           answer=true
         else
           echo ""