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1993-07-26
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IDLE 2.20
(c) Copyright 1993 by UniNova Services Corporation
Free Distribution of Shareware Version Encouraged.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
------------------
About This Document....................................... 1
Product Acknowledgement................................... 1
Disclaimer................................................ 1
Introduction to IDLE...................................... 1
Syntax.................................................... 2
Examples............................................. 3
Installation and Use...................................... 3
Distribution Rights....................................... 4
Registration Procedures and Benefits...................... 4
The Back Door........................................ 5
History................................................... 5
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT:
--------------------
Please understand that a rudimentary understanding of MS-DOS is expected
throughout this manual. If terms such as "DOS PATH" confuse you, it would
be to your benefit to spend some time reading your DOS manual.
This documentation was written in a compact format in an attempt to save
disk space, paper [and associated natural resources], and download time.
If you feel it could be made more compact, feel free to contact UniNova
Services Corporation ("UniNova" in the remainder of this document).
PRODUCT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
-------------------------
Microsoft Corporation: Microsoft and MS-DOS are registered trademarks, and
Windows is a trademark.
Walker, Richer, and Quinn: Reflection is a registered trademark.
Other product and service names are recognized here en masse. The lack of a
(tm), (sm), or (c) mark does not indicate an attempt to deprive the rightful
owner of a trademark, service mark, or copyright their legal rights.
DISCLAIMER:
-----------
THE SHAREWARE VERSION OF IDLE IS NOT 100% SECURE - UNINOVA HAS INSTALLED
A "BACK DOOR" TO ENCOURAGE REGISTRATION! PLEASE READ THE SECTION ENTITLED
"REGISTRATION PROCEDURES AND BENEFITS" FOR MORE INFORMATION!
You assume all responsibility for the action of this software on your system,
and use this software at your own risk. This program has been tested, but
no software can be legitimately guaranteed to run without flaw on all systems
in all conditions. By using this software, you indicate your agreement to
release UniNova of all liability for any damage that might occur.
INTRODUCTION TO IDLE:
---------------------
The IDLE program is a simple way of providing password security for a system.
By adding a line in the beginning of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file that calls IDLE,
you will stop unauthorized users from accessing your system. The only way
known to UniNova to get out of IDLE without the password is to re-boot,
which brings the user back to IDLE anyway (assuming the program is called
from the AUTOEXEC.BAT, as recommended, on a DOS 5 [or earlier] system).
Due to various multi-tasking/task swapping environments, it is really your
responsibility to make sure that a background program can not be brought
to the top, compromising the security of your computer. At this time, IDLE
will prevent a user from pressing <Ctrl-C> or <Ctrl-Break> to exit the
program, but it will NOT trap keystrokes such as <Alt-Tab> or <Alt-B>.
Therefore, if you have a program that uses an <Alt> or <Ctrl> keystroke to
"come back to life", you will need to ensure that the program is not active
in memory when you run IDLE. Starting in version 2.10, sample .PIF files
are included for use as a DOS application within Windows. It is up to you,
however, to ensure that the .PIF truly does prevent swapping to a different
task. Also, it is your responsibility to not make gross security errors, such
as pressing <Alt-B> to put Reflection in the background and then running IDLE
with Reflection (and a host connection, presumably) still active.
SYNTAX:
-------
To run the program, you must give it one parameter (your password), and
may give it a second parameter (the option list). In place of the password,
you may use /REG to generate a registration form. Thus, the formal syntax
for the program is:
IDLE /REG|password [options]
An explanation of each item follows:
IDLE - the name of the program. If it is in the current directory,
or if it is in a directory listed in your DOS PATH, you do not
need to include the directory path when running the program.
Otherwise, be sure to specify where the computer should find
the program. (See examples below.) Not case sensitive.
/REG - Using this as the first (and, presumably, only) parameter will
lead you through a brief question-and-answer session, and then
the program will either print a registration form to the printer
port you specify, or will write it to the current disk and
directory, overwriting any other file named REGISTER.DOC that
may exist in that directory. Not case sensitive (/reg = /REG).
password - what you'll need to type to regain control of your computer.
It is limited to 50 characters. Starting in version 2.15, it may
contain characters from the extended character set, but it cannot
contain tabs, spaces, carriage returns, or "control characters".
The password is CASE SENSITIVE! Thus, if you use the password
MoNgOoSe, the following WILL NOT exit the program: MONGOOSE,
MonGoose, mongoose, etc. (See examples below.)
[options] - a list consisting of one or more of the following letters (with
the meaning for each as listed):
C : The display screen will be colorized using ANSI colors.
N : The password will not be displayed on the screen when you
type it to exit the program.
X : The display screen will make use of extended characters,
instead of relying on plain ASCII characters. This allows
for a "nicer" display on systems that permit it.
The options should be combined without spaces or other delimiters
if you wish to use more than one. (See examples below.) Not
case sensitive. The order of the options is irrelevant, and
you can include other characters (which will be ignored). Thus,
the "option" SYNTAX=common would enable color, extended characters,
and would prevent the password from being displayed as it's
typed. This allows the use of a word or phrase in a batch file
that might appear to an onlooker to be part of the password.
Examples
--------
Program placed in directory: C:\UTILS
DOS PATH = C:\;C:\DOS;C:\UTILS;C:\MOUSE
Directory where program is called from: C:\DOCUMENT
Display options desired: Use no-color plain ASCII, show
password as it's being typed.
Password: Victorious
Call to program: IDLE Victorious
Program placed in directory: C:\WHITMORE
DOS PATH = C:\;C:\DOS;C:\UTILS;C:\MOUSE
Directory where program is called from: C:\DOCUMENT
Display options desired: Use colorized extended chars, do
not display password as it's typed.
Password: VICTORIOUS
Call to program: \WHITMORE\IDLE VICTORIOUS CNX
Program placed in directory: C:\WHITMORE
DOS PATH = C:\;C:\DOS;C:\UTILS;C:\MOUSE
Directory where program is called from: C:\WHITMORE
Display options desired: Use colorized ASCII, show password
as it's typed.