        
    * Welcome to Hide-It!  

    Windows Version 1.2  7/19/95

    Hide-It! keeps your private files private - quickly, easily and 
    transparently.  To those without your password your hidden files do 
    not appear to exist.  Programs, applications, utilities, file 
    managers, DOS and Windows can't find, view, delete, or work on your 
    files.  For all practical purposes your hidden files simply don't 
    exist. 

    But enter your password and instantly all your hidden files become 
    visible and accessible.  You don't have to un-hide each individual 
    file when you want to access it because Hide-It! takes care of 
    everything automatically and transparently.  It's so simple!  Those 
    with your password have instant, complete access to all your hidden 
    files, those without won't even know they're there.  

    Hide-It will hide your files in DOS and any version of Windows up to 
    and including 3.1.  It will not hide your files in OS/2, Windows for 
    Workgroups, Windows NT, or Win95.  We hope to have a Win95 version 
    out this fall that will be available to registered users for $5.

        
    * How secure?

    Hide-It hides your files and is different than encrypting them.   
    Encrypting a file actually re-arranges the file contents so the 
    result is gibberish.  Un-encrypting such a file is virtually 
    impossible (on good encryption programs) without knowing the 
    password.  Encryption schemes are virtually fail-safe.  They do 
    however have problems.  First, the file still exists.  Its contents 
    may not make sense but the file is still there to be deleted, renamed 
    or changed.  If someone modifies an encrypted file without un-
    encrypting it, the file contents will be scrambled and in many cases 
    the file simply won't un-encrypt, making it useless.  Not good news.  
    In addition, you must remember to un-encrypt and re-encrypt each file 
    before and after you use it. 

    Hide-It on the other hand doesn't encrypt your files, it hides them 
    (thus the name).  There are several ways it can be defeated by 
    someone who is knowledgeable about the nuts and bolts of PC's (more 
    on this later), but only if that someone has reason to suspect hidden 
    files exist.  That's why we keep Hide-It's operation as secret as 
    possible.  And that's also its advantage.  You don't have to un-hide 
    and hide each file when you want to use it.  Hide-It takes care of 
    all that automatically - all you do is enter the correct password.  
    It's transparent to both the authorized and un-authorized user. 

    So should you use Hide-It alone of in conjunction with an encryption 
    program?  If you have just a few very important files that you expect 
    others with advanced PC expertise to actively seek out, then you 
    probably want to use an encryption program to encrypt your files 
    before using Hide-It to hide them.  On the other hand if your files 
    are sensitive but not earth-shattering, or you don't expect PC 
    wizards to actively search for them, and/or you have a lot of files 
    you want to hide, then encryption is probably not needed and Hide-It 
    can be used alone. 

    NOTE:  There are some programs that hide files just by changing the 
    attribute of the file to make it into a system file.  This sometimes 
    hides the file from DOS but not from a whole host of other programs.  
    While Hide-It also changes the file attribute to "system" it goes 
    MUCH further in protecting your files.  There really is no 
    comparison.  Hide-It, as long is it is loaded in memory, is very 
    secure.  The other method is highly unreliable and virtually useless 
    within Windows. 

    * IMPORTANT 

    Hide-It (tm) is copyrighted 1995 by RSE Incorporated.  Parts of the 
    program are proprietary.  Do not use the software unless you agree  
    NOT to unassemble, disassemble, reverse engineer or use any other 
    means to examine or modify the code of INSTALL.EXE, HUTIL.EXE, 
    HIDEIT.COM, or HINSTALL.COM. 
    
    RSE Inc. specifically disclaims all warranties pertaining to this 
    software.  The software is released "as is". 
              
    * How much?

    Hide-It is shareware.  This means you're freely given this copy in 
    order to evaluate it.  If after a 30 day evaluation period you decide 
    to continue using it, you must become a registered user by sending 
    the registration fee of $29 plus $1 shipping ($5 overseas) and 
    another $1 if you want a 3.5 disk to: 

        Hide-It Registration                Mastercard or Visa customers:
        1157 57th Drive SE                         (206) 939-4105
        Auburn, WA 98092                      E-mail: rse@aol.com   

    Make check in US funds drawn on a US or Canadian bank payable to RSE Inc..

    You are encouraged to freely distribute copies of WHIDE.ZIP as 
    long as you don't modify the files in any way.  DO NOT distribute 
    the individual, extracted, files; only WHIDE.ZIP. 

    As a registered user you'll receive these additional benefits: 

    1.  No more annoying messages (and delays) asking you to register.
        The screen that appears whenever you boot-up your computer will 
        disappear completely along with the 10 second delay and the 
        requirement to push a key to continue, as will the nag message 
        that occurs whenever you run the Hide-It! utilities.
    2.  The latest version of Hide-It.
    3.  The latest full function evaluation versions of our other 
        shareware including our popular "Sassi" and "Remind Me!" programs.
    4.  Technical support 
    5.  A sincere "Thank you" for supporting our efforts to develop quality 
        software and offer it at reasonable prices. 

    Those using Hide-It in a commercial, educational, or governmental 
    environment must register.  Site licenses are available, as well as 
    quantity discounts. 

    If for some reason you decide NOT to register Hide-It! please send us 
    e-mail and let us know why.  We're always trying to improve our 
    products. 

    * Installation

    If you haven't already installed Hide-It you need to do so now.  Run 
    "INSTALL.EXE" from within Windows.  
        
    * Disk compression software

    If you have disk compression software like Stacker or DoubleDisk make 
    sure that your AUTOEXEC.BAT file runs HIDEIT (or whatever you renamed 
    it during installation) AFTER the disk compression program has been 
    loaded. 

    * Using Hide-It

    The installation program appends your AUTOEXEC.BAT file so Hide-It  
    is run whenever your computer is booted.  The "please register" 
    message and it's associated 10 second delay disappear when you 
    register.  

    Hide-It does a great job of hiding files if it's loaded and running.  
    If no one knows Hide-It is running then they won't have any reason to 
    try to defeat it.  To the non-authorized user, Hide-It is totally 
    transparent - the hidden files simply don't appear to exist.  If we 
    broadcast the fact Hide-It is protecting your files then all a nosey 
    user would have to do to disable it would be to remove Hide-It from 
    the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. 

    Is it that easy to defeat?  Not really.  Even if Hide-It isn't 
    running, the hidden files still have some degree of protection.  
    That's because as part of the hiding process Hide-It turns the file 
    into a system file.  There are certain things DOS will not do to 
    system files.  The following DOS commands don't recognize system 
    files: DIR (unless they use "dir /as"), RENAME, TYPE, COPY, and 
    DELETE.  In addition, programs with the system file attribute won't 
    run.  

    What else is there?  Sounds pretty protected to me.  Well, it is, 
    kind of.  The problem is that nowadays most programs, even DOS, can 
    list system files in the directory listing and let you change system 
    files to normal files and vice versa.  So if someone were to remove 
    Hide-It from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, do a directory listing with such 
    a program and change all the system files to normal files, they would 
    have complete access to your hidden files.  Pretty remote, but if the 
    person is knowledgeable about PCs and is trying to defeat Hide-It, 
    it's possible.  But if he/she doesn't know Hide-It is protecting your 
    files then this whole discussion is a moot point.  That's why we do 
    our best to keep Hide-It's presence a secret. 

    * Making Hide-It tougher to defeat

    There are things you can do to make it harder for someone to defeat 
    Hide-It.  During installation HIDEIT.COM is renamed to the new name 
    you give it.  You can make multiple copies of this renamed file, 
    giving each copy a different name, and running each of the different 
    copies from within your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.  You can even run one or 
    more of the copies from your CONFIG.SYS file by using 
    "INSTALL=xxxxxx" where "xxxxxx" is the full pathname of the file you 
    want to run.  Someone would then have to remove all references to the 
    renamed HIDEIT.COM files in both the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS 
    files before Hide-It would be defeated.  Don't worry about loading 
    Hide-It! multiple times as it only loads itself once regardless of 
    how many times it is run. 

    If you decide to load Hide-It multiple times from within your 
    AUTOEXEC.BAT and/or CONFIG.SYS file keep in mind that using the 
    "Hide-It Utilities" to change your password only changes the initial 
    copy of Hide-It.  You have to manually copy that file into the other 
    files.  Likewise using the "Hide-It Utilties" to un-install Hide-It 
    only un-installs the initial copy of Hide-It.  You'll need to 
    manually remove all other references to Hide-It in your AUTOEXEC.BAT 
    and/or CONFIG.SYS file. 

    * Un-hiding your files

    Well back to business.  Once you've run Hide-It! then to un-hide your 
    files you go to the accessories group, select "Hide-It! Utilities" 
    (rembering that you renamed it to something else during 
    installation) and then enter your password and select "Exit: Unhide 
    files" or click on the open lock icon.  The files will stay un-hidden 
    until you re-boot or make them hidden again by selecting "Exit: Hide 
    Files" within the Hide-It! Utilities program. 

    Hide-It doesn't look to match a phrase or word, instead it checks 
    every key press you make when entering the password.  This means you 
    can use any key on the keyboard in your password except Ctrl, Alt, 
    the Shift keys, or the SpaceBar.  It also means that you must enter 
    the password exactly, you can't use the backspace key to correct 
    mistakes. 


    * Hiding your files

    There's one more feature of Hide-It we need to discuss.  Let's say 
    you've given yourself access to the hidden files and you need to 
    leave your computer for a while.  What do you do?  Just go to the 
    Hide-It! Utilities and select "Hide Files".  You can now turn over 
    the computer without fear that the person will access your hidden 
    files.  When you want to regain access to your hidden files just 
    run the Hide-It! Utilities and enter your password.
        

    * How to mark your hidden files

    You use the "Select files to be Hidden" option in the "Hide-It! 
    Utilities" program in the Accessories Group (you probably renamed it 
    during installation) to select which files are to be hidden.  The 
    program is self-explanatory. 
        
    Remember, you don't need to select and un-select files each time you 
    use them.  Once you select a file to be hidden it remains hidden 
    forever (to unauthorized users only) unless you use the "Hide-It! 
    Utilities" to un-select it.  

    * The Other Hide-It! Utilities

    In addition to hiding and un-hiding your files and letting you select 
    which files are to be hidden, the Hide-It! Utilities program in the 
    Accessories Group also lets you register Hide-It!, change passwords, 
    read this documentation, install new versions and un-install Hide-
    It!.  Its operation is self-explanatory. 
        
    * Things to keep in mind

    IMPORTANT:  Don't hide HUTIL.EXE, HINSTALL.COM, or HIDEIT.COM (which 
    you renamed during installation).  

    Almost always authorized users can work on hidden files just as if 
    they were normal files, without worrying about whether they're hidden 
    or not.  However, when you use the DOS "copy" command to make a copy 
    of a hidden file, the new file is NOT hidden.  Therefore if you copy 
    a hidden file, make sure you hide the copy using HIDE.  The original 
    remains hidden so you don't need to worry about it. 

    "Hide-It! Utilities" indicates a few files are hidden which you 
    didn't hide.  LEAVE THESE FILES HIDDEN!  These are system files which 
    your computer needs to boot up correctly.  There will be at least two 
    of them in the root directory of your boot disk.  Other programs use 
    system files as well.  Leave these files alone. 

    As you may have noticed, Hide-It is an all or nothing thing.  You 
    can't specify different levels of access.  Those with the password 
    have access to all the hidden files, those without don't.  It's as 
    simple as that. 

    Hide-It is not meant for file servers on LAN networks.  If every 
    station doesn't install Hide-It when it boots then you'll lose most 
    of your protection because Hide-It won't be running on those 
    machines.  It's also possible someone else could install Hide-It on 
    their own boot disks.  Then each of you would have access to each 
    others hidden files located on the common file server disk.  Remember 
    it's an all or nothing thing.  However, these difficulties are only 
    present on disks that are shared by the LAN.  You can still use Hide-
    It with confidence for those files that reside on your own 
    workstation's disk(s), and aren't shared with the rest of the LAN. 

    Hide-It uses about 1K of memory (next to nothing) and is listed in 
    memory listings as "DOS". 


    * Problems

    "I'm having problems with my disk compression software"

    Check your AUTOEXEC.BAT file and make sure that "HIDEIT" (or whatever 
    you renamed it during installation) is being run AFTER the disk 
    compression software (Stacker, DoubleDisk, etc..) has been run. 

    "I forgot my password.  What now?"   

    Follow these steps exactly: 

    > Remove the statement from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file that runs Hide-It! 
      (remember, of course that you named it something else). 

    > Re-boot the computer.  Exit Windows if in Windows.

    > Extract the WHIDE.ZIP file onto a blank floppy disk, or into an 
      empty subdirectory.  DO NOT extract them into the same subdirectory 
      where you originally installed Hide-It. 

    > After the Hide-It files are extracted enter "hideit" at the DOS 
      prompt.  

    > Delete all the Hide-It files you just extracted.

    > Start Windows

    > Run the "Hide-It! Utilities" in the Accessories Group and enter 
      "hello" as the password.
    
    >  Select "Change Password" from within the Hide-It! Utilities.

    * Technical Support

    Registered users can get technical support by calling (206) 939-4105 
    or by e-mail: rse@aol.com 

    That's about all.  Thank you for taking a look at Hide-It.  Hope you 
    find it worthy of your support. 


