diff --git a/aux-addon.lua b/aux-addon.lua
index 8ca076a..d23d0e9 100644
--- a/aux-addon.lua
+++ b/aux-addon.lua
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ local stack = require 'aux.core.stack'
 local post = require 'aux.core.post'
 local scan = require 'aux.core.scan'
 
+_G.aux_characters = T
 --aux_account_settings = {} -- TODO clean up the mess of savedvariables
 --aux_character_settings = {}
 
@@ -163,9 +164,20 @@ do
 	end
 end
 
-function M.is_player(name, current)
-	local realm = GetCVar'realmName'
-	return not current and index(aux_characters, realm, name) or UnitName'player' == name
+function M.is_player(name)
+	local key = GetCVar'realmName' .. '|' .. UnitFactionGroup'player'
+	return index(aux_characters, key, name)
+end
+
+function LOAD2()
+	local key = GetCVar'realmName' .. '|' .. UnitFactionGroup'player'
+	aux_characters[key] = aux_characters[key] or {}
+	for char, lastSeen in aux_characters[key] do
+		if GetTime() - lastSeen > 60 * 60 * 24 * 30 then
+			aux_characters[key][char] = nil
+		end
+	end
+	aux_characters[key][UnitName'player'] = GetTime()
 end
 
 function M.neutral_faction()
diff --git a/core/cache.lua b/core/cache.lua
index 8bc50d2..db2ac7d 100644
--- a/core/cache.lua
+++ b/core/cache.lua
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ _G.aux_item_ids = T
 _G.aux_auctionable_items = T
 _G.aux_merchant_buy = T
 _G.aux_merchant_sell = T
-_G.aux_characters = T
 
 function LOAD()
 	scan_wdb()
diff --git a/core/slash.lua b/core/slash.lua
index 93881a1..1d01ef5 100644
--- a/core/slash.lua
+++ b/core/slash.lua
@@ -58,39 +58,6 @@ function SlashCmdList.AUX(command)
     elseif arguments[1] == 'ignore' and arguments[2] == 'owner' then
 	    _G.aux_ignore_owner = not aux_ignore_owner
         print('Ignoring of owner ' .. (aux_ignore_owner and 'enabled' or 'disabled') .. '.')
-    elseif arguments[1] == 'chars' and arguments[2] == 'add' then
-		local realm = GetCVar'realmName'
-		aux_characters[realm] = aux_characters[realm] or T
-		for i = 3, getn(arguments) do
-			local name = gsub(strlower(arguments[i]), '^%l', strupper)
-			if not aux_characters[realm][name] then
-				aux_characters[realm][name] = true
-				print('Character "' .. name .. '" added.')
-			end
-		end
-	elseif arguments[1] == 'chars' and arguments[2] == 'remove' then
-		local realm = GetCVar'realmName'
-		if not aux_characters[realm] then
-			return
-		end
-		for i = 3, getn(arguments) do
-			local name = gsub(strlower(arguments[i]), '^%l', strupper)
-			if aux_characters[realm][name] then
-				aux_characters[realm][name] = nil
-				print('Character "' .. name .. '" removed.')
-			end
-		end
-	elseif arguments[1] == 'chars' then
-		local realm = GetCVar'realmName'
-		local chars = T
-		for name in aux_characters[realm] or empty do
-			tinsert(chars, name)
-		end
-		if getn(chars) > 0 then
-			print('Your characters: "' .. join(chars, ', ') .. '".')
-		else
-			print('You don\'t have any additional characters. To add your characters type "/aux chars add NAME1 NAME2 NAME3...".')
-		end
 	else
 		print('Unknown command: "' .. command .. '"')
 	end
diff --git a/util/info.lua b/util/info.lua
index b4bdc0f..0bf4956 100644
--- a/util/info.lua
+++ b/util/info.lua
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ function M.auction(index, query_type)
             'itemstring', item_info.itemstring,
             'item_key', item_id .. ':' .. suffix_id,
             'search_signature', join(temp-A(item_id, suffix_id, enchant_id, start_price, buyout_price, bid_price, aux_quantity, duration, query_type == 'owner' and high_bidder or (high_bidder and 1 or 0), aux_ignore_owner and (is_player(owner) and 0 or 1) or (owner or '?')), ':'),
-            'sniping_signature', join(temp-A(item_id, suffix_id, enchant_id, start_price, buyout_price, aux_quantity, aux_ignore_owner and (is_player(owner, true) and 0 or 1) or (owner or '?')), ':'),
+            'sniping_signature', join(temp-A(item_id, suffix_id, enchant_id, start_price, buyout_price, aux_quantity, aux_ignore_owner and (is_player(owner) and 0 or 1) or (owner or '?')), ':'),
 
             'name', name,
             'texture', texture,