Basic authentication in Apache

After the latest updates (yum update), the basic authentication has 
stopped working in Apache.
I didn't touch it; even generated from scratch, but it wouldn't work, 
It simply gives access to the files, despite a .htaccess in
/var/www/html/thisdir. It doesn't show the/any password-prompt and simply
gives access to anybody.

httpd   i386   2.0.46-44.ent.TL1        db

Any hint ?