How can S3 Pre-signed URLs enhance security?

S3 Pre-signed URLs enhance security primarily by allowing timed access to specific objects in an Amazon S3 bucket without having to expose AWS credentials. This feature enables you to generate a URL that grants temporary access to a private object stored in S3. When a user accesses the pre-signed URL, they can download or interact with the object for a limited period of time specified in the URL's parameters.

This method allows you to maintain the integrity of your access controls by only providing access to designated users for a limited duration, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access that could occur if permanent access was granted. Since these URLs are signed with the credentials of the bucket owner, they effectively act as a secure gateway to the content without needing to share sensitive credentials.

This way, you can share private content securely with external users (like clients or partners) while still retaining strict control over access permissions and the duration for which they can use the URL.