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---------------------------------------------- COMPUTER SECURITY SYSTEM v1.42 MANUAL (c) Noel LLopis Artime - 1992 ---------------------------------------------- INTRODUCTION.- This is the manual for the Computer Security System V1.42 (CSS). It's not necessary that you read through the whole manual to use CSS -it's a very friendly, self explanatory program- but keep in mind that it could be a very good help in case you have trouble at any point. This manual is composed of three parts: the first one is about the INSTALLATION program, covering installation, unistallation, setup changes, etc; the second part focuses on the CSS program itself, with a careful explanation of every option; finally, the third part is composed of some notes, hints and possible problems of CSS. I would strongly suggest that you read the first part (the step by step INSTALLATION section) before installing CSS for the first time, and use the rest of the manual as a reference. Once the manual's structure has been clarified we can go to the main point of this introduction: the SHAREWARE concept. CSS is a SHAREWARE program, and you should at least know what this is all about (if you do... well, just send the check with the registration fee and get started; if you don't... keep reading). SHAREWARE is a system of commercializing software that allows the user to try a program before actually buying it. In other words: if this was a commercial program bought in a software store you would have probably paid around sixty or seventy dollars for it, and then, if you find out that it wasn't what you really wanted... well, too bad, you just wasted your money. But in case this was (and in fact this is) a SHAREWARE program, you would have the right to get a copy of this program for free, try it, and then, if you find it useful and think you're going to use it regularly, pay for it later. If the program doesn't fulfill your needs just erase it and use the disk for something else, and you haven't wasted a penny! (Do you see the advantage there?) This system has also some more advantages: because we don't have to spend any money on expensive ads on magazines, making fancy shiny cardboard boxes or printing colorful booklets with the instructions, we can reduce the price a lot and benefit both the programmer (me) and ,most importantly, the user (you). It also allows an easy programmer-users communication and the creation of new releases with improvements demanded directly from the users. Something we have to stress is the difference between SHAREWARE and PUBLIC DOMAIN (also known as PD) software. PD may be, as well as SHAREWARE, copied freely between users or ordered from a software company. But the big difference is that SHAREWARE programs DO have a copyright, owned by the author, while PD ones don't and the author gives all the rights to the users. This program, for example, can't be modified or sold without a permission from the author (me again!) because of the copyright. We could say that SHAREWARE is based also on trust. Yes, trust. To give all those incredible advantages to the users, the programmers have to trust them and let them send the money once they have the program and they've tried it. This point is very important, so I would please ask you, that if you find this program useful and you think you might use it, send the registration fee (see below). If you don't, the benefits from this programs will be reduced, and probably to a point where commercialization would be more profitable. For my next program I (and lots of other 'trusting' programmers) would have learned something and forget about SHAREWARE. This, little by little, would be the end of a system that mostly benefits the users. The end of SHAREWARE (How sad!). And, of course, we don't want that to happen (do you?). So try the program and... do what you have to do. Before finishing with this introduction I'll briefly explain you the benefits of registering the program: - As soon as we receive your payment you will be mailed the latest REGISTERED version of CSS. Just print out the order form (PRINT A:\FORM.DOC), fill it out and send it with those $15 (Yes only that!). - You will be able to contact us about any questions you might have and we will try to do our best to solve your problem. - Finally (this is especially interesting for other programmers or if you want to adapt CSS to your own particular needs), you can also purchase the source code of CSS (written in Turbo Basic and Assembly) for $20. For more information on this subject read the section WHY REGISTER? in part three. Well, this was definitely longer than what I intended to write, but I hope everything's very clear, and there's no problems with it. See you soon (in another program maybe), Noel Llopis 303 Dwight UMASS Amherst, MA, 01003 January 1992 ------------------------------------ REGISTRATION FEE: $15.00 ------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------- PART ONE: THE INSTALLATION PROGRAM ---------------------------------------------- THE INSTALL PROGRAM.- This program, despite of what the name might suggest, is much more than a simple installation program. It is the first program you ought to run to use CSS. It is a totally independent program (named INSTALL.EXE on your disk) that will take care of installing CSS on your hard drive; unistall it quickly and efficiently putting everything back the way it was before; or simply change all the settings of a running copy of CSS. MAIN MENU. ------------ The main menu presents you the five options described below. - INSTALL PROGRAM: Sets CSS on your hard drive for the first time you use it. There are several questions you should answer to customize it to your needs. - CHANGE SETUP: Once you have CSS installed you can make changes in the initial setup at any time by selecting this option. - UINSTALL PROGRAM: Whenever you decide you don't want CSS running on your computer any more, use this option to totally erase it and restore the hard drive as it was before. WARNING: If you proceed with the unistallation all the CSS settings and possible DATA will be erased. - READ MANUAL: You can consult the manual easily and without exiting the program by selecting this option. It allows you to easily go throught the text and find what you want. - EXIT TO DOS: Finishes the program and returns to DOS. INSTALL PROGRAM. ------------------ You should select this option when you want to run CSS in a computer for the first time. An error message in a red rectangle will pop up if the program detects CSS already installed in that hard drive and will return to the main menu. If there are no problems you will be asked several questions for the setup. It is important that you answer them the most accurately you can, but keep in mind that you can change them any time you want through the CHANGE SETUP option. The setup questions are the following: - Name of the System Operator: This, of course, is your own name. That is the name you will have to enter when you turn the computer on. The System Operator (or Sysop) is the person that will be in charge of the computer (or the system). This person, you again, will be able to choose who will be able to use the computer and what programs they will use. He will have access to a special menu that will be discussed later in part two. If more people are going to have System Operator access (**REGISTERED VERSION ONLY**) just include them later on from CSS itself. For right now you will be the only one. - Computer identification: This is a message, one line long, that will appear at the bottom of the screen every time CSS is active. It serves to identify the computers in a large classroom, an office, etc. If you are just using one computer you might want to enter your name (e.g. ROB FOLEY'S COMPUTER) or leave it blank and an standard message will show up. - Number of users: This is the maximum number of people you would like to have using the computer. Don't worry, there's no need to start counting and try to remember everybody. Just make a rough approximation, it doesn't matter if you put extra people, it will just take up a little more memory. If, for example, you think that around fifteen people will use the computer, put twenty or even thirty, just in case you need it later. Again, remember that you can change this later on if you run out space. You can set it up to 10,000 people, so you'll probably fit everybody there. (**REGISTERED VERSION ONLY** - Unregistered version will only accept up to 20 people since it is just a trial copy.) - Name of program to park the hard drive: This is only in case that you want to retract your hard drives' head when you finish the session and exit CSS. I personally would recommend to use this option and give an extra protection to your hard drive, but... you don't have to. When you enter the name of the program (usually HDPARK, PRKHD, RETRACT or something similar) you should also enter the path, that is, tell the computer exactly where that file is located (e.g. C:\DOS\filename ). If you decide you don't want to use it, just press enter and the installation process will continue. Following these questions the program will proceed with the installation of the program on the hard drive. After just a few seconds it will inform you that CSS has been successfully installed or that there has been a problem (it ran out of space, found damaged sectors, etc). In any case it will came back to the main menu. CHANGE SETUP. --------------- With this option you will be able to change the configuration you have currently on. You will be asked the same questions that when you installed the program, but this time your previous settings will be printed on the screen and you will be able to edit them. If, for example, you had selected a maximum number of users of 30 and you want to change it now to 50, select this option. Simply press return in all the settings you don't want to change, and enter 50 instead of 30 when you are asked you maximum number of users. Once you answer all the questions the new configuration will be saved and will work the next time you turn the computer on. To use this option you have to have CSS installed in your computer; if not an error message will appear. UNISTALL PROGRAM. ------------------- If you decide you are not going to use CSS any more use this option. It will totally erase CSS from your hard drive and restore everything the way it was before. If the program encounters any errors (such as AUTOEXEC.BAT file missing or some CSS files missing) it will report it and MIGHT NOT unistall it properly. In this case, if you have any problems when you reboot the system, check the AUTOEXEC file. If there is a more serious problem feel free to contact me. Again, to use this option you need (obviously!) to have CSS already installed. If not an error message will be shown right away. EXAMPLE OF INSTALLATION OF CSS.- This is a practical example of an installation in a general case. If after reading the first pages of this chapter you are a little confused, or you are in a hurry to get CSS running, follow exactly the instructions below: - Turn the computer on. You should get the C:> prompt or a shell (if so, get out of the shell to the C:> prompt). - Insert your CSS disk in either disk drive A: or B: (depending on your disk size). - Type A: (or B:). You should now have a different prompt like A:> (or B:>) - Type INSTALL - Once in the main menu press RETURN. - Here you have to type your name. This is usually done by entering FIRST NAME LAST NAME (with a space in between). This will be exactly the name you will have to tape next time you turn the computer on. - You will be asked for the computer identification. Type in the name of the section where you work, the classroom, your name or anything you want. You may also leave it blank and press RETURN. - Now it will prompt you for the maximum number of users that the system is going to support. If you don't know how many there will be, enter 50 (a number large enough to hold lot of people and not to use too much memory). - For the moment being, just press RETURN to the question about the program to park your hard drive and come back later, when you have time, with the CHANGE SETUP option. - Now just wait a few seconds (depending on the speed of your machine it can vary form almost a minute to only a few seconds). - And if everything went fine you will have a sign on the screen saying "CSS installed successfully". - Now press a key, and from the main menu choose EXIT TO DOS and press RETURN. - Just reboot (turn the computer off and on or press [ALT]+[CTRL]+[DELETE]) the computer and CSS will ask for your name. Congratulations! You have now CSS running on your computer without any problem. For more information about the use of CSS read part two. ---------------------------------- PART TWO: RUNNING CSS ---------------------------------- RUNNING CSS V4.2.- If you successfully installed CSS on your hard drive, then next time you turn your computer on, a screen will appear asking you to enter your name. If this is the case everything went fine and you can now concentrate in this part of the manual. If you get anything else, get back to part one and read carefully the section on the INSTALL PROGRAM option. You really don't need to read this manual to work with CSS. CSS V1.4 is a very user friendly program totally based on self explanatory pop-up menus, and with a constant help line on the screen. Everything is controled with the cursor keys and the return button, avoiding this way the 'nightmarish' set of [CONTROL]+KEY combinations that other programs use. You should be able so to use CSS without even looking at this section (but you should still read part three). Otherwise, if you are the kind of user that prefers to know 'what's going on' before doing anything, or you find any difficultity, you can use this chapter as a reference section. The rest of the chapter will be a detailled description of every option and problem you may find when using CSS. All the options will be listed by thei name grouped under the menu's name for easy and quick reference. MAIN MENU. ------------ - USERS MANAGEMENT: Shows the users management submenu. You can add new users, delete some or list them from here. - USERS' OPTIONS MENU: Allows you to edit the programs the users will be able to use. - CHANGE PASSWORD: Allows to change the SYSOP password. - EXIT/SHELL TO DOS: You can exit (get out of CSS to the DOS prompt without returning) or shell (get to the DOS prompt but returning by typing EXIT). - FINISH SESSION: This will save every change and set your computer ready to turn off. USERS MANAGEMENT MENU. ------------------------ - LIST ALL USERS: This will show you a list of all the current users included in CSS. You can see 16 of the at the time on the screen but you can use the cursor keys and the keys PageDown and PageUp (**REGISTERED VERSION ONLY**) to show all of them. The information shown is the following: -User number. Each user has a number, that only represents the order they were typed in. -User name. -User SL (Security Level) (**REGISTERED VERSION ONLY**) Each user has a SL that ranges from 1 to 6. It means the 'class' of user they are. The SL's from 1 to 5 are different distinctions between users. Each SL will have different options in a different menu. So a user with SL of 1 will be able to run different programs than one with a SL of 3. This is especially usefull when there are different classes at school working on the same computer, or several employees at the office using it a different times. -Last date on. This shows the date and hour of the last time they were on. There are four things that can appear under LONG: the time that user was on using the computer; TURNED OFF if the user just turned off the computer instead of exiting from his account; ON NOW if this is your own account; and SHELLED (** REGISTERED VERSION ONLY**) if a SYSOP shelled to DOS and turned off the computer from there. If a user has just been added it will say HAS NOT LOGGED IN YET. - INSERT NEW USER: This option will allow you to enter the name of the users you want in the system. At the beginning there is just one user (probably you). Then you have to add all the users yourself. The program will ask you for the user's name and then for the user's SL (**REGISTERED VERSION ONLY**). As you can see you can give a SL from 1 to 6 to anybody you want. Keep in mind that a SL of 6 is a SYSOP access and will have the same options you have. This should be used with extreme precaution and be given only to people that really need it (for example other teachers). To return to the main menu just leave a user's name blank. - DELETE USER: When you need to drop a user select this option. You will get a listing of the users, just like in the LIST USERS option, but this time you will have a highlighted user. You can highlight any and press [ENTER] to erase it. Be carefull with this option: once a user has been erase it CANNOT be recovered. - EDIT USER: (**REGISTERED VERSION ONLY**) In this option you will get another list of users and a highlighted one. When you select a user you will be able to modify its name and SL. - BACK TO MAIN MENU: It just gets you back to the main menu. Same result than pressing [ESC]. EDIT USER'S OPTIONS MENU. --------------------------- All changes done within this menu will affect the user's options of the SL that is being edited only. You will see the current SL at the top of the menu. (**REGISTERED VERSION ONLY**. In the unregistered version only one SL and SYSOP status are available, so all editing affects all users except the SYSOP.) - GO TO USERS' OPTIONS MENU: It presents you the menu the users of that SL will have after logging in. You can use it and run the programs from it. - ADD A NEW OPTION: When you start you only have one option: BACK TO LAST MENU. This option is built in the program and cannot be edited or deleted. You will be asked for the program's name, enter something the users will know what it is (for example WORD PERFECT 5.1). Then you will be asked for the commands to run that program. There you should enter what you will normally type from DOS to run that program. If you need more than one command put in between the sign "|" (with the same example CD WP51|WP). You cannot have more than six options in the same menu. - DELETE OPTION: The options menu will pop up again and this time when you select an option it will be erased from the menu. You should use this if you want to add some extra options but you already have six or if you just want to get rid of some. - EDIT OPTION: If you have made any mistakes while entering the name of the program of the command line, use this option and you will be able to change any of them. - SELECT SL: (**REGISTERED VERSION ONLY**) You can select from a submenu the SL you want to edit the options for. You have from 1 to 5 (the users' SL) and a NO CHANGE option to continue with the current SL. - RETURN MAIN MENU: Gets you back to the main menu. Same as pressing [ESC]. CHANGE PASSWORD. ------------------ This option changes your password. It first asks if you want to change it before proceding. If you confirm it it will prompt you for a new password just like the first time you logged in. It is especially important to keep in mind that having the same password for a long period of time is not very safe. The more often you change it, the more secure the system will be. I would recommend to change it at least once a month. EXIT/SHELL TO DOS. -------------------- Once you are into the SYSOP menu you can go to the DOS prompt using this option. There are two ways you can do it: shelling and exiting. A SHELL to DOS means that you only leave CSS temporarily and it will be kept in memory. Once you have done everything you wanted, to get back to CSS you only have to type 'EXIT' at the DOS prompt. On the other hand if you EXIT to DOS, CSS will be erased from memory, freeing all the RAM it was occupying. You would want to use this option if you don't plan to go back to CSS or if you don't have enough memory to run a program from the SHELL. It is important to note that everytime you exit/shell to DOS all the data is saved, so even if you forget and turn the computer off while shelling, all the possible changes you made would have been saved. FINISH SESSION. ----------------- If you are in CSS and want to finish for the moment and turn the computer off this is the option you should use. It will save everything before finishing and then, if you specified it in the setup, will park your hard drive head for maximum protection. IMPORTANT: Never turn off the computer withouth exiting/shelling to DOS or using this FINISH SESSION option or any changes you made will be lost. ------------------------------------------ PART THREE: LAST NOTES AND COMMENTS ------------------------------------------ SOME INSTALLATION ADVICES.- When you decide to install CSS v1.42 in your computer you have to know that without a proper installation it might not be a totally safe system. There are several points you should check to run CSS: -One of the main problems with otherl security programs is that a user might press [CTRL]-Break while running the AUTOEXEC.BAT file (when booting up). In CSS this problem has been elliminated because of the *** CSS LOCK *** implemented in the CONFIG.SYS file that disables the [CTRL]-Break key. Then just at the start of the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, the other key, [CTRL]-C, is also disabled. But you should be aware that, even if the [CTRL]-Break key is enabled after CSS starts, [CTRL]-C is not, so if you need to use a break key in DOS you will only be able to use the first one. -The installation program will cancel the command KEYB if it is found in your AUTOEXEC file. This is because KEYB resets the keyboard and enables the [CTRL]-C break. If you want to use KEYB you have to manually make a line at the BEGINNING of AUTOEXEC before the BREAKOFF order. That way it will load the keyboard configuration you want and then will disable the breaks. -For total safety your computer should have a way (usually in the SETUP when you are booting it) to select the boot drive. If you select C: instead of A: and C:, the computer will first look for the system files on your hard drive, avoiding this way that somebody could introduce a system formated diskette in drive A: and boot the computer from there bypassing CSS. In case your computer doesn't have this, don't worry, as I have seen so far, it is not very common that people bring their own system formated disks to boot the computer. You also might want to think about buying a kit to make a hardware lock in your computer so it boots always from drive C:. -And finally a few comments about the programs the users have access to. You should not include anything like PC TOOLS, NORTON UTILITIES, XTREE, etc. That kind of programs allow a user with a minimal knowledge to disable CSS or even destroy your hard drive. If you can try to avoid those programs. WHY REGISTER?.- Well, there is a very simple answer to that: to use CSS. You really should NOT use an uregistered version of CSS regulary on your system. The unregistered version is just like a trial from which you decide if you want to buy the program or not. If you do this is what you get: -The LATEST registered version of CSS at the moment of registering. From there and on any updates will be only $5. -That registered version, as you have probably seen through the manual, has several improvements: *Can handle up to 10,000 users instead of only 20. *It can manage 6 different kinds of users with different access levels. *Possiblity to have several System Operators with same privileges. *Has a better and more extensive error checking. *A more user friendly install program. -After registering you can also get the source code of CSS (made in Turbo Basic and Assembly) for only $20. -For any problems or personalized requests you can contact me and I'll try to solve it for you. -And, probably most important, you'll help to keep the Shareware spirit alive. THE FUTURE.- Right now CSS v1.42 is the newest version. Of course this is not going to stop here, but it is all up to you. If I recieve enough registrations as it has been to the moment, and there is enough constructive critiques with ideas for improvements, there will definetly be a CSS v2.00 (that I already have in mind). Some of the new improvements will be: -A more compact code made probably in Pascal or C and Assembly. -Possibility of a electronic mail system in between users and System Operators. -Public posting. -Mouse operations. -Color selection. Please, when you register let me know what you think about these improvements or any other you might have. I will take them all in consideration. APPENDIX I ------------ CSS FATAL ERRORS.- - FATAL DISK ERROR: This is a general error for a disk I/O operation. It could be anything but apart from a disk full or not formated, it probably means a problem with one of the data files of CSS. Check and make sure that all these files are in the CSS directory: CSS.EXE CSS.DAT DATA.CSS REGISTER.CSS ALARM.CSS OPTIONS.CSS SETUP.CSS Any file with a .CSB extension is just the back up in case the power goes off while running CSS. - SETUP FILE CORRUPTED OR MISSING: The SETUP file has been modified, is missing or is from a previous CSS version. - CSS NOT PROPERLY INSTALLED: It most likely has been a problem while installing and then you tried to run it. It can also be a problem with the CSS.DAT or SETUP.DAT file or incompatibility with another previous CSS version. You should uninstall CSS and install it back again. - INTERNAL CLOCK PROBLEM: Your internal clock is probably not functioning or you have changed the time/date since CSS installation. This usually is not a problem but sometimes can affect CSS because it uses the internal clock to keep track of the time the users were on. The rest of CSS message errors are not fatal (they don't stop the program) and are explained in the manual section where they occured. APPENDIX II ------------- CSS MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS.- - A PC compatible 128K. - One hard drive of any size. - One floppy drive. - DOS 2.0 or higher. CSS RECOMMENDED SETTINGS.- - PC compatible with 640K or more. - One hard drive of 20Megs or more. - One or more floppy drives. - DOS 3.2 or higher. - Setup utility to select bootable drive.