upload - permission question

Hi all,
I have a few problems with permissions, to upload files to the server. I'm
using the 'move_uploaded_file'-function which is ok for me and my php
version is 4.0.6.

If my destination folder is not in 777 mode, files will not upload. I have a
small security plroblem here, so I could protect the folder wit a ht_
access, but the files are needed in normal webviewing (where no login is
needed).
I do not think that the ht_access is a good solution; any other ideas?
Is php considered as a 'user' or does it operate through apache?

Thanks
Jill