diff --git a/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoadConnection.h b/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoadConnection.h
index c0584ab..886b7dd 100644
--- a/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoadConnection.h
+++ b/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoadConnection.h
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@
 @property(nonatomic,readonly) NSData* responseData;
 @property(nonatomic,readonly,getter=imageURL) NSURL* imageURL;
 
+@property(nonatomic,retain) NSString *username;
+@property(nonatomic,retain) NSString *password;
 @property(nonatomic,retain) NSURLResponse* response;
 @property(nonatomic,assign) id<EGOImageLoadConnectionDelegate> delegate;
 
diff --git a/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoadConnection.m b/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoadConnection.m
index 435225a..e20a045 100644
--- a/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoadConnection.m
+++ b/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoadConnection.m
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 
 @implementation EGOImageLoadConnection
 @synthesize imageURL=_imageURL, response=_response, delegate=_delegate, timeoutInterval=_timeoutInterval;
+@synthesize username=_username, password=_password;
 
 #if __EGOIL_USE_BLOCKS
 @synthesize handlers;
@@ -92,6 +93,28 @@ - (void)connection:(NSURLConnection *)connection didFailWithError:(NSError *)err
 	}
 }
 
+- (BOOL)connection:(NSURLConnection *)connection canAuthenticateAgainstProtectionSpace:(NSURLProtectionSpace *)space {
+    if([[space authenticationMethod] isEqualToString:NSURLAuthenticationMethodHTTPBasic]) {
+        return self.username || self.password;
+    }
+    return NO;
+}
+
+- (void)connection:(NSURLConnection *)connection didReceiveAuthenticationChallenge:(NSURLAuthenticationChallenge *)challenge {
+    if ([challenge previousFailureCount] == 0) {
+        NSURLCredential *newCredential = [NSURLCredential credentialWithUser:self.username
+                                                                    password:self.password
+                                                                 persistence:NSURLCredentialPersistenceNone];
+        [[challenge sender] useCredential:newCredential forAuthenticationChallenge:challenge];
+    }
+    else {
+#ifdef DEBUG
+	    NSLog(@"Failed authentication challenge after %ld failures", (long) [challenge previousFailureCount]);
+#endif
+        [[challenge sender] cancelAuthenticationChallenge:challenge];
+    }
+}
+
 
 - (void)dealloc {
 	self.response = nil;
diff --git a/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoader.h b/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoader.h
index 7997e9d..3c87e1b 100644
--- a/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoader.h
+++ b/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoader.h
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@
 - (void)clearCacheForURL:(NSURL*)aURL style:(NSString*)style;
 
 @property(nonatomic,retain) NSDictionary* currentConnections;
+@property(nonatomic,retain) NSString *username;
+@property(nonatomic,retain) NSString *password;
 @end
 
 @protocol EGOImageLoaderObserver<NSObject>
diff --git a/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoader.m b/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoader.m
index 32a619a..1bce3bf 100644
--- a/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoader.m
+++ b/EGOImageLoader/EGOImageLoader.m
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ - (void)handleCompletionsForConnection:(EGOImageLoadConnection*)connection image
 
 @implementation EGOImageLoader
 @synthesize currentConnections=_currentConnections;
+@synthesize username=_username, password=_password;
 
 + (EGOImageLoader*)sharedImageLoader {
 	@synchronized(self) {
@@ -128,6 +129,9 @@ - (EGOImageLoadConnection*)loadImageForURL:(NSURL*)aURL {
 		return connection;
 	} else {
 		connection = [[EGOImageLoadConnection alloc] initWithImageURL:aURL delegate:self];
+        
+        connection.username = self.username;
+        connection.password = self.password;
 	
 		[connectionsLock lock];
 		[currentConnections setObject:connection forKey:aURL];