A dongle is a small device that plugs into a computer’s USB drive. Dongles offer different functionalities, such as providing mobile Internet access, speeding up data transfer, running secure software, or connecting multiple devices to the computer.
With a WiFi dongle, you can access the Internet in places like the beach.
In short, the term “dongle” is defined as any small device that plugs into the Universal Serial Bus (USB) or other port on the computer, no matter what it does. These devices are generally used to provide some function that is not built into the computer. This includes adding memory, providing Bluetooth® and WiFi® connections, and adding adapters so other devices can connect. Mobile broadband USB modems are often referred to as “mobile keys”.
Bluetooth dongle with antenna.
In industries that frequently use protected software, the term is still used primarily for security devices.
Phone connected to a dongle.
Why is a dongle called a dongle?
No one knows where the word “dongle” originated. According to Oxford University Press, publisher of the famous English Dictionary, “dongle” is of uncertain and anonymous origin.
dongle fitbit
How does a security dongle work?
The software sends an encrypted request to the security dongle to obtain a validation key, which is also encrypted.
There are several types of dongles.
This means that in order to crack the dongle, a hacker must first crack the encryption.
Older dongles typically plugged into the computer’s serial port and were used to protect software that was already loaded on the computer. During the upload, the software would check for the presence of the dongle, and if it didn’t find it, it wouldn’t upload. This system was vulnerable because a programmer could alter the software so that it didn’t look for the dongle or think it was present when it wasn’t.
An even more secure approach stores encrypted bits of the software on the dongle itself, which the program requests when it needs them. In this scenario, even if a hacker tricked the software into thinking the device was present, the software would not be able to run because essential parts of its code would be missing.
Did you know?
A dongle is any small device that plugs into a computer’s USB port.
Dongles can provide Internet access, fast file transfers, and secure software.
Some dongles connect multiple devices to one computer.
No one knows where the word “dongle” comes from.
How do other types of dongles work?
Non-security dongles work by including virtually all the necessary hardware and software in the device itself.
Make sure you buy the correct type of dongle for your needs, as there are many types.
Can a dongle be used as wifi?
Yes. Wi-Fi dongles, also called USB wireless adapters or USB Wi-Fi adapters, include a network adapter that allows a computer to connect to the Internet.
Although the computer must have the correct settings to make the broadband connection, the device contains the technology that enables the connection to be made.
What is a wireless sync dongle?
A wireless sync dongle is a dongle that communicates with a device, often a fitness device, and transfers its data to a computer.
What is a Bluetooth dongle?
A Bluetooth dongle connects a Bluetooth-enabled device, such as a mouse or keyboard, to a computer.
What problems do dongles have?
Common dongle issues relate to security and the use of locked software. They are also easily lost.
Some software companies have tried to introduce dongle security with their consumer-facing software without success, although consumers are often familiar with USB technology.
As technology changes and new hardware and operating systems become more common, older software required by the device may no longer be usable.
Another common problem is that people may need to use more than one type of locked software at a time and the computer may not be able to accommodate all the different devices at once. Most dongles take up one port and don’t allow other devices to connect; a computer that only has two or three USB ports, for example, may already have a mouse, camera, or other device attached, leaving no room for anything else.
Also, dongles are easily lost or damaged. Specialists such as video editors or audio engineers may be willing to put up with the hassle, but the average computer user usually isn’t.
To deal with these issues, some companies specialize in emulators that try to convince the computer that the dongle is present. However, these emulators are not always legal as they are specifically designed to fix security issues.
When a person buys a piece of software, what they are really buying, more often than not, is a license to use the software. With that license, the user generally agrees to certain conditions and the use of an emulator may violate those rules.
If the person who purchased the software did so legally and has the dongle or if that piece of hardware no longer works properly, it may be legal to use an emulator in some circumstances.
Are there dongle alternatives?
There are alternatives to using a dongle for security purposes, although they are not always as reliable.
Some programs have key codes that must be entered when the software is first installed; others only allow the program to be installed once.
In some cases, the computer running the software must have an Internet connection so that it can regularly connect to the manufacturer’s servers to confirm who is using the program. As with dongles, each of these security measures can cause problems for the user if they don’t work properly or if the software needs to be transferred to a new computer. Furthermore, almost all of these methods have been cracked.
A skilled hacker can trick a computer into falsely verifying that a security dongle is installed.
