PHP PDO Sanitize variables

Question

Im working with PDO for the first time and im wondering if the below looks safe, I've tried to read up on alternatives to mysql_real_escape and it seems like the 'prepare' method is sufficient enough security wise, can anyone clarify this for me? Still appears vulnerable...

$UID = $_GET['id'];

$sth = $conn->prepare("SELECT * FROM directory WHERE user_active != '' AND ID = :uid");
$sth->execute(array(':uid' => $UID));

Answer 1

The prepare method is not only sufficient, it's preferred over mysql_real_escape().

Your code works, as $UID will be transmitted with a different protocol than the rest of the SQL statement. Since the database treats it differently, there's no need to escape.