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                   OE5 Autologout - Readme.txt
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Disclaimer: Use this software at your own risk.  I will not be
responsible for any damage that results from the use of this
software, including but not limited to damage to hardware, loss
of data, or expenses incurred due to loss of data or information.


OE5_Autologout does not have any `nags' or timeout features, but
I do ask that you send me a $5 registration fee if you use the
program regularly and find it helpful.  Please send e-mail to
tiamatt@hotmail.com for registration instructions; I absolutely
guarantee that I will not use this for any purpose other than
contacting you about this program.


I.   What is OE5_Autologout?

II.  Installation

III. How does OE5_Autologout work?

IV.  Registration/Troubleshooting/Help



I.   What is OE5_Autologout?
-----------------------------

Outlook Express 5 has an annoying design "feature" which may
potentially leave password-protected e-mail exposed to anyone
with access to your PC: even when the user has setup separate
identities and configured OE5 to prompt for a user, OE5 stores
the current identity in the registry between sessions.

This means that even if you exit OE5 without explicitly logging
out, any user with access to the PC may run OE5 and browse your
mail without entering your password.

OE5_Autologout replaces the shortcuts you use to run OE5, and it
ensures that your identity is reset when you exit.  This saves
you the time and inconvenience of explicitly logging out every
time you close OE5, and it protects confidential correspondence.


II.  Installation
------------------

Installing OE5_Autologout is very simple.

     A.     Unzip the program files.
            If you are reading this document, you have completed
            this step.
     B.     Copy "OE5_Autologout.exe" to a convenient directory.
     C.     Locate the shortcuts you use to run OE5.
            Right-click on these shortcuts.
            Choose Properties.
            Change targets so that shortcuts point to
            OE5_Autologout.exe
     

III. How does OE5_Autologout work?
-----------------------------------

OE5 stores the identity of the current user in the registry.
When you logout it clears these values.  OE5_Autologout first
launches OE5, then runs in the background using very little CPU
time waiting for OE5 to exit.  (It keeps track of the status of
OE5 by periodically checking its ID.)  When OE5 exists,
OE5_Autologout makes the same changes to the registry file the
OE5 would have made.

OE5_Autologout runs without constructing a visible window, but
you can manually `kill' or end the process by hitting Alt-Ctrl-
Del, choosing OE5_Autologout, then hitting `End Task'.


IV.  Registration/Troubleshooting/Help
---------------------------------------

If you use OE5_Autologout regularly, I ask that you contact me
about registration - please send e-mail to: tiamatt@hotmail.com

I will not use this information for any other purpose.  Your
address will never be given to any other person or group and I
will never send advertisements to you at this address.

I know of no bugs in the software, but please write to me if you
find anything.  You should also feel free to write with any
questions you have about installation or use, but please
understand that I will give priority to those users who have
chosen to register with me.

There are several known issues which I will address in future
releases:

OE5_Autologout will not work if your OE5 executable file has been
moved to a different directory.  (I can think of no reason for
doing this.)

OE5_Autologout will not be called if you hit the E-mail button in
Internet Explorer.  I might develop a version of this program
that actually replaces the standard executable file, but I am
weighing the benefits and detriments of this approach.



