=== ViralMESH Smart 404 Redirect ===
Contributors: viralmesh
Tags: 404, redirect, error, SEO, UX, countdown
Requires at least: 5.0
Tested up to: 6.8
Requires PHP: 7.2
Stable tag: 1.2
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Automatically redirect visitors from 404 pages with a custom message and countdown.

== Description ==

ViralMESH Smart 404 Redirect helps reduce bounce rates by gently redirecting lost visitors from 404 pages to a chosen URL after a short countdown.

The plugin includes a simple settings page where you can choose the redirect URL, countdown length, and frontend message.

== Features ==

* Custom redirect URL
* Custom countdown timer
* Custom redirect message
* Optional setting to prevent redirects for logged-in users
* Bot and crawler avoidance
* Lightweight settings page

== Installation ==

1. Upload the plugin files to the `/wp-content/plugins/viralmesh-smart-404-redirect` directory, or install the plugin through the WordPress plugins screen.
2. Activate the plugin through the Plugins screen in WordPress.
3. Go to Settings > Smart 404 Redirect to configure the redirect URL, countdown, and message.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Does this affect bots like Google or Bing? =

The plugin avoids redirecting common bots and crawlers based on their user agent.

= Can I disable redirects for logged-in users? =

Yes. Go to Settings > Smart 404 Redirect and enable the logged-in user option.

== Changelog ==

= 1.2 =
* Added logged-in user redirect control.
* Added bot and crawler avoidance.
* Improved escaping and sanitisation.
* Prepared first WordPress.org SVN release.
