Message-ID: <232@tymix.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 3-May-84 19:49:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: tymix.232
Posted: Thu May  3 19:49:21 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 6-May-84 07:37:15 EDT
References: <36100076@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Organization: Tymshare Inc., Cupertino CA
Lines: 21

The device referred to is known as a "dongle" (I've no idea why).  It is used
by various software companies (the Paperclip word processor uses it) to        
prevent piracy while still allowing backups.  

It is possible to have a logic chip within the dongle which would allow the
software to check for a particular code (or a unique serial number) so that
simply "shorting" the dongle will not work.  Of course, probably ANY      
protection scheme can be "broken", but as both a user and a developer, the
dongle makes the most sense to me in allowing the user flexibility while
making an attempt at protecting the author.  Most of the disk copy protect
schemes seem to wreak havoc with the disk drive.  In the case of a 1541
(which tends to be VERY prone to misalignment) the copy-protected disk can
cause drive problems eventually.

The only drawback to the dongle is that since it is a piece of hardware, it
will add some cost to the software package, so it is generally not used in
low-cost packages (much under $100).

	Elliot B. Schneider
	...decvax!ucbvax!hplabs!oliveb!tymix!ebs