dongle

hardware /dong'gl/ (From "dangle" - because it dangles off

the computer?)

1. security A security or copy protection device for

commercial microcomputer programs that must be connected to

an I/O port of the computer while the program is run.

Programs that use a dongle query the port at start-up and at

programmed intervals thereafter, and terminate if it does not

respond with the expected validation code.

One common form consisted of a serialised EPROM and some

drivers in a D-25 connector shell.

Dongles attempt to combat software theft by ensuring that,

while users can still make copies of the program (e.g. for

backup), they must buy one dongle for each simultaneous use

of the program.

The idea was clever, but initially unpopular with users who

disliked tying up a port this way. By 1993 almost all dongles

passed data through transparently while monitoring for their

particular magic codes (and combinations of status lines)

with minimal if any interference with devices further down the

line. This innovation was necessary to allow daisy-chained

dongles for multiple pieces of software.

In 1998, dongles and other copy protection systems are fairly

uncommon for Microsoft Windows software but one engineer in

a print and CADD bureau reports that their Macintosh

computers typically run seven dongles: After Effects, Electric

Image, two for Media 100, Ultimatte, Elastic Reality and CADD.

These dongles are made for the Mac's daisy-chainable ADB

port.

The term is used, by extension, for any physical electronic

key or transferable ID required for a program to function.

Common variations on this theme have used the parallel port

or even the joystick port or a dongle-disk.

An early 1992 advertisment from Rainbow Technologies (a

manufacturer of dongles) claimed that the word derived from

"Don Gall", the alleged inventor of the device. The company's

receptionist however said that the story was a myth invented

for the ad.

[Jargon File]

(1998-12-13)

2. A small adaptor cable that connects, e.g. a PCMCIA

modem to a telephone socket or a PCMCIA network card to an

RJ45 network cable.

(2002-09-29)