Links
Published here are some links to dongle-related resources that are of general interest to software delevopers.
techopedia - Software Protection Dongle & DRM
A software protection dongle is a tiny hardware device connected to a computer I/O port to authenticate commercial software. It ensures the software’s protection by rendering the software inoperable when a required hardware device is not connected. Software without a dongle will either not run completely or will operate in restricted mode. This term is also known as Hardware Token, Security Device, Steinberg Key and Hardware Key. These are proprietary names used by various manufacturers.
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/25595/software-protection-dongle
Digital rights management (DRM) is any access control technology used to protect and license digital intellectual property (IP). DRM is used by publishers, manufacturers and IP owners for digital content and device monitoring.
http://www.techopedia.com/definition/3986/digital-rights-management-drm
Wikipedia - Digital Rights Management
The main intent of Digital rights management (DRM) is to prevent unauthorized copies of a product. DRM is a class of access control technologies that are used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals with the intent to limit the use of digital content and devices after sale. When applied to software, DRM helps prevent copyright infringement, with the goal being to ensure continued software revenue streams. Hardware locks are considered necessary to prevent "intellectual property" from being copied freely, just as physical locks are needed to prevent personal property from being stolen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_rights_management
Wikipedia - Software Protection Dongle
The software protection dongle is a small piece of hardware that plugs into an electrical connector on a computer and serves as an electronic "key" for a piece of software; the program will run only when the dongle is plugged in. Vendors of software-protection dongles (and dongle-controlled software) often use terms such as "hardware key", "hardware token", or "security device" instead of "dongle", but the term "dongle" is much more common in day-to-day use. Dongle technologies vary in the level of security provided, the most innovative modern dongles being designed with a code porting mechanism, meaning the software vendor can transfer part of the important program code or license enforcement into a secure hardware environment (such as in an embeded smart card OS). An ISV can port thousands of lines of important computer program code into the dongle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_protection_dongle
BBC - What Is DRM
Digital Rights Management, or DRM, is a class of technologies that allow rights owners to set and enforce terms by which people use their intellectual property. Rights owners are typically copyright-holding companies like music, film, book or software publishers. They use DRM to control how documents, entire software programs, or even e-mails are used. The most common commercial use of DRM is copy prevention. The technology gives rights holders some assurance that their intellectual property will not be pirated.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6337781.stm
Business Software Alliance
BSA’s mission is to promote conditions in which the information technology (IT) industry can thrive and contribute to the prosperity, security, and quality of life of all people.
Caast.org
Caast.rog provides definitions and information on the negative implications of software piracy and important measures to take to prevent piracy.
Programmer's Heaven
Programmer's Heaven is a very useful portal containing resources for developers in C, C++, C#, .Net, Visual Basic, Java, Ruby, PHP, Perl, Python and more. Featuring forums, tens of thousands of resources, blogs, jobs and more!
http://www.programmersheaven.com
Squidoo Lens
Squidoo is a community website that allows users to create pages (called lenses) for subjects of interest. There is an interesting article on protecting software licenses from piracy using dongles.
http://www.squidoo.com/protecting-software-licenses
Senselock Europe
Senselock makes advanced USB dongles for software license protection. Senselock dongles provide software publishers with strong copy protection from piracy and therefore secure licensing. Senselock dongles are renowned for ease-of-use and dramatically reducing support costs.
http://www.senselock-europe.com