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View Full Version : RE: PLEASE READ - for those who are being logged out unexpectedly

KneadToKnow
03-22-2002, 12:21 PM
Will setting our profile to auto-login not allow others who use the same computers as we to post under our user name?
Tattva
03-22-2002, 12:55 PM
I think the answer to your question is Yes. If you forget to logout, people can use that computer to post as you.

Just remember to logout. (I know there's a logout button on the main board page (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb).)
Arnold Winkelried
03-22-2002, 12:58 PM
As Tattva said, if you set auto-login to yes remember to log out when you are done using the SDMB.
KneadToKnow
03-22-2002, 01:14 PM
I guess I'm just as confused as I can be, then. What good will logging out do if the cookie is going to log me in automatically when I (or one of my co-workers) comes back to the site?

I get the distinct impression that I'm missing something significant here.
Arnold Winkelried
03-22-2002, 01:29 PM
When you log out from the main site, the cookie will be deleted. The next person coming along will have to enter a username and password.
If you set auto-login (using cookies) to no, then my understanding is that every time the session expires you would have to re-enter your username/password. (I have not verified that.)
KneadToKnow
03-22-2002, 02:57 PM
I know I'm beating this to death, but maybe it's helpful for others out there with situations similar to mine.

I've just set both options to "yes." I guess we'll see how it goes.
KneadToKnow
03-22-2002, 04:33 PM
Okay, I played around for a while, posted several replies, never had to log in twice.

Logged out, closed my browser, came back, had to log in again.

Just like I want it. Thanks, all!
Fatwater Fewl
03-24-2002, 01:52 AM
Until I changed my profile option to auto-login, I was being timed out within half an hour. Not a problem since.

John
Chronos
03-24-2002, 03:38 PM
I did as suggested the other day, and since then, I seem not to have been automatically logged out. So, I guess it worked.

For privacy and convenience on the lab computers, what I did was set up a Netscape profile, and then put the profile in a directory accessible only to me. That way, I log into the computer once, and don't have to enter passwords for the board, my e-mail, etc., but anyone else using the computer (other than the administrator, of course, but there's nothing I can do about that) can't access my profile, so won't be able to log in as me.