A dongle is a small device that plugs into a computer’s USB port and offers various functions such as mobile internet access, data transfer, and secure software. The term “dongle” is of uncertain origin. Security dongles work by encrypting requests for validation keys. Non-security dongles include necessary hardware and software. Dongles can be used for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and wireless sync. Common problems with dongles include security issues, blocked software, and limited USB ports. Alternatives to dongles include key codes and internet connections for validation.
A dongle is a small device that plugs into a computer’s USB drive. Dongles offer various functions, such as providing mobile Internet access, speeding up data transfer, running secure software, or connecting multiple devices to your computer.
In short, the term “dongle” is defined as any small device that plugs into the Universal Serial Bus (USB) or other port on your computer, regardless of what it does. These devices are usually used to provide some function that is not built into the computer itself. This includes adding memory, providing Bluetooth® and WiFi® connections, and adding adapters so that other devices can be connected. Commonly, mobile broadband USB modems are often referred to as “mobile dongles”.
Within industries that frequently use secure software, the term is still used primarily for security devices.
Why is a dongle called a dongle?
No one knows where the word “dongle” comes from. According to Oxford University Press, publisher of the famous English Dictionary, the “dongle” is of uncertain and anonymous origin.
How does a security dongle work?
The software sends an encrypted request to the security dongle for a validation key, which is also encrypted.
This means that in order to crack the dongle, a hacker must first crack the encryption.
Early dongles were usually plugged into a computer’s serial port and used to secure software that was already loaded on the computer. When loading, the software would check for the dongle and fail to load if it could not find it. This system was vulnerable because a programmer could alter the software to not look for the dongle or to think it was there when it wasn’t.
An even more secure approach stores the encrypted bits of the software on the dongle itself, which the program requests when it needs them. In this scenario, even if a hacker were to trick the software into thinking the device was present, the software would not be able to function because key pieces 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 transfer, 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 necessary hardware and software inside the device itself.
Make sure you buy the right type of dongle for your needs, as there are so 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 your computer must have the correct settings to make a broadband connection, your device contains the technology to make the connection.
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’s wrong with dongles?
Common dongle problems are related to security and the use of blocked software. They are also easily lost.
Some software companies have tried unsuccessfully to introduce dongle security with their consumer-oriented software, even though consumers are often familiar with USB technology.
As technology changes and new operating systems and hardware become more common, the older software that requires the device may no longer be usable.
Another common problem is that people may need to use more than one type of blocked software at a time, and the computer may not be able to accommodate all of the different devices at once. Most dongles occupy one port and won’t allow you to connect other devices; a computer that only has two or three USB ports, for example, might already have a mouse, camera, or other device plugged in, leaving no room for anything else.
Also, dongles are easily lost or damaged. Specialists like video editors or sound engineers might be willing to put up with the inconvenience, but the average computer user usually isn’t.
To deal with these problems, some companies specialize in emulators that attempt to convince the computer that the dongle is present. However, these emulators are not always legal, as they are specifically designed to bypass security issues.
When a person buys software, what they’re really buying, more often than not, is a license to use the software. With such a license, the user generally agrees to certain conditions and using an emulator may violate these rules.
If the person who bought the software did so legally and has the dongle, and/or if that piece of hardware no longer works properly, it may be legal to use an emulator in some circumstances.
Are there any alternatives to the flash drive?
There are alternatives to using a dongle for security purposes, although they aren’t always as reliable.
Some programs have key codes that must be entered when the software is first installed; others allow the program to be installed only once.
In some cases, the computer running the software must have an Internet connection so that it can connect regularly to the manufacturer’s servers to confirm who is using the program. As with dongles, any of these safeguards can cause problems for the user if it doesn’t work properly or if the software needs to be transferred to a new computer. Furthermore, almost all of these methods have been hacked.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
