Dongles and Software Protection

While software vendors cannot reasonably incorporate elaborate and costly protection schemes, software protection should make it more expensive to pirate software than to purchase it. A dongle is an external hardware-based security solution that provides the highest level of security currently available. Hardware tokens are commonly used to protect high value applications and therefore end users are accustomed to their presence. Dongles do not create a substantial inconvenience and therefore do not inhibit a software sale.

Sentinel security hardware devices are typically available in Universal Serial Bus (USB dongle) or 5-pin parallel port dongle form factors. Using a software toolkit, you can protect your application by integrating calls to check for the presence of the dongle. The software will then run, or not, based on the rights given by the license stored in the device.

Sentinel Dongle Application Integration

Implementation is an important element in ensuring the highest possible level of security for your application. In order to fortify the strength provided by a hardware token, you can program your application to utilize the token itself. Forcing application functionality to be dependent on the dongle makes hacking attempts such as reverse engineering significantly more difficult. There are several methods for using the hardware token as a required part of the application.

Sentinel Security Products are available as USB dongles, parallel port dongles and low profile parallel port (ISA or add-on PCI adapter cards) with the same program library. Our next-generation Sentinel Hardware Keys are also hi-speed USB certified. To get started with SafeNet Sentinel Hardware Keys, request your trial development kit.

What is a Dongle and Where Did it Come From?

The software protection market provides a myriad of solutions, varying in levels of security, to combat piracy and license non-compliance. Fortunately software-based licenses, although not the most secure anti-piracy technology available, can effectively reduce revenue leakage due to casual copiers. Software-based licenses also provide the most flexible licensing options and can be combined with a hardware key to increase piracy protection.

However, the environment in which the software operates cannot be considered entirely secure because the license is stored on the machine and not an external device, such as a dongle. Therefore software-based solutions do not create an impenetrable defense against piracy attacks.

A dongle is an external hardware device that greatly increases the difficulty required to crack a software application. Using a software toolkit, you can protect your application by integrating calls to check for the presence of the dongle. The software will then run, or not, based on the rights given by the license stored in the dongle. Sentinel dongles are the world's most widely deployed hardware tokens.

Rainbow Technologies told the story of Don Gaul on their web page years ago. Rainbow was acquired by SafeNet in March, 2004 and the Sentinel dongle product line became part of SafeNet. Despite the admitted silliness, this history of the dongle lives on in Internet infamy. As originally posted on the Rainbow Technologies Page:

Once there was a developer named Don Gaul whose software application was being used wherever he traveled around the world, without his knowledge or compensation! "What is this!" he said! "I need to secure my software!" And, so was born the "dongle". A hardware device or key that can be integrated in to your application to ensure that your property is protected and your license revenues secured!