A hardware dongle is a small device that interfaces with a computer, often used as a security key for software or VPN access. It can also be used as a pigtail adapter, wireless network adapter, or even a common flash drive. Dongles are difficult to pirate and can translate data streams between port types. They are also used for Bluetooth, WLAN, and mobile connectivity. Some common flash drives and adapters are referred to as dongles, but they do not strictly fit the definition.
A hardware dongle is a small, portable device that interfaces with a laptop or desktop computer, usually with the Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. Sometimes similar to a flash drive, it was traditionally used as a security key designed to authorize the use of certain software packages or to allow the holder access to a virtual private network (VPN). Today, the term also refers to pigtail-type adapters, wireless network adapters, and even common flash drives, although the latter usage is not universally accepted.
Software that requires a dongle will not function without the device present or may operate in a broken mode. Your device may authorize or unlock particular software features based on the type of license you purchased. In addition to providing security, a dongle is more difficult to crack or pirate than it is to copy or crack software. Requiring both the software and the corresponding hardware raises the difficulty of piracy to a level that essentially makes the product a less desirable target.
A hardware dongle is also used with many VPNs, issued to authorized employees. The device exchanges security tokens with the VPN in the handshake process, providing encrypted credentials that are stored before the computer is allowed access to the network. The dongle is typically coupled to a particular computer via unique profile identifiers, preventing it from being used on an unknown system if it is lost or stolen. A secure password is also commonly required of the user, further discouraging unauthorized use.
A dongle or pigtail adapter translates the data stream from one port type to another. For example, an ExpressCard® to USB dongle allows a laptop or desktop computer that doesn’t have an ExpressCard® slot to use such a device by inserting it into an external port, connected to a USB connector that can be plugged into the computer.
Other pigtail dongles are 2-in-1 adapters. An example is the 2×1 HDMI auto-switching dongle. This adapter has a male HDMI connector for connection to a High Definition Television (HDTV) or home entertainment receiver. The other end features two female HDMI ports for inputting signals from two separate devices, such as a DVD player and game console. The cable detects which of the devices is active, displaying the signal on the HDTV. This dongle is useful for receivers or HDTVs with limited inputs.
Another type of hardware dongle is the wireless network adapter. There are several types of these devices for connecting to a Bluetooth® network, a wireless local area network (WLAN), or a cellular or mobile network.
Bluetooth® is a wireless personal area network (PAN) used primarily to connect personal devices over short distances. A Bluetooth® dongle will allow a laptop to exchange data with a mobile phone, for example, or with other Bluetooth®-enabled devices, including printers and fax machines.
WLANs are typically found in homes and offices, and most computers today have built-in wireless network cards. When you can’t use an internal card, you can purchase an external wireless adapter or wireless hardware dongle. The dongle must share a common wireless protocol with the router it will connect to.
Mobile connectivity was previously associated exclusively with handheld portable devices such as cell phones and personal digital assistants. However, cellular broadband is growing in popularity as an alternative to laptop connectivity. Since a cellular dongle must be branded or compatible with the carrier of the cellular service the user wishes to connect to, the service is chosen first, then a dongle can be selected.
A common flash drive might also be referred to as a hardware dongle, although some do not consider these true dongles because they do not translate data streams between port types, nor are they strictly speaking security keys, even when adapted for use as such . Other types of adapters commonly referred to by this term also fall outside this stricter definition, such as the 2-in-1 HDMI adapter/dongle.
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