Q: What can I do with the SmartDongle?
A: Anything you want.
Our primary focus is to provide developers with a versatile way to protect their software from piracy. The SmartDongle is such a versatile device that individuals with a little know-how have used it as a convenient way to protect personal information as well.
Q: How does it work?
A: Excellently.
The SmartDongle is opened with your unique security keys. Once opened, the dongle can be written to and read from as necessary to protect your application. Any information that is written to the dongle is encrypted with 128 bit
AES encryption. This protects the dongle from being disassembled and read by other hardware. To further increase security, your application can encrypt the data being sent to the dongle to prevent a potential hacker from seeing the data before it is written.
Q: What is open source?
A: Open source is an approach to the design, development, and distribution of
software, offering practical accessibility to a software's source code. Some consider open source as one of various possible design approaches, while others consider it a critical strategic element of their operations.
Q: Will my keys be unique?
A: Yes.
The SmartDongle uses two 64 bit keys. Each customer is assigned a set for their use, but can request additional security keys as needs arise.
Q: What programming languages do you support?
A: If you would like to see another language supported then contact us. We do custom work quite often.
C/C++
Delphi
Java
.Net (Including VB and C#)
Visual Basic 6.0
Anything that can load an external library.
Q: What OS's do you support?
A: If your OS is not listed here then contact us. We will try our best to accommodate your needs.
Windows 98SE/2000/XP/2003/Vista
Linux and FreeBSD (requires libusb)
Macintosh OSX 10.1 & up
Q: Do I have to use external libraries?
A: Only if your language requires it.
Some Languages that we support require the use of dlls. External libraries are, by themselves, relatively easy for a pirate to attack. There are some easy tricks to employ that will greatly increase your security in these situations.
Perform a checksum (such as MD5 or SHA1) on the dll.
Store secrets or executable code on the SmartDongle.
Always obfuscate your application code.
Be creative. We don't want to give everything away.
Q: Can the SmartDongle be exported to my country?
A: We have filed an intent to export the SmartDongle, and can export it to any countries EXCEPT the following.
| Afghanistan |
Angola |
| Cuba |
Iran |
| Iraq |
Libya |
| Montenegro |
North Korea |
| Rwanda |
Serbia |
| Sudan |
The Western Balkans |
| Yugoslavia |
|
Q: Will my SmartDongle explode if I use the wrong keys to try and open it?
A: Absolutely not.
We have no idea where this rumor got started, but if you use the wrong keys, the SmartDongle will simply fail to open.
Q: Why do I get an "Error 10" message when installing the driver?
A: The issue is caused by a USB filter driver installed on certain HP Laptops running Windows Vista 64 to improve the quality of audio files with some USB Speakers & TV Tuners. The solution is to simply uninstall the driver (as outlined below).
Open up the control panel and select "Programs and Features"
Locate the driver labeled "AMD USB Audio Filter Driver"
Select uninstall and then follow the prompts
According to HP, there is not harm in uninstalling this driver.
