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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!akgua!sdcsvax!bmcg!cepu!trwrba!trwrb!sdcrdcf!hplabs!tektronix!keithe
From: keithe@tektronix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro.cbm
Subject: protecting the software (dongles?)
Message-ID: <2468@tektronix.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 10-May-84 01:34:40 EDT
Article-I.D.: tektroni.2468
Posted: Thu May 10 01:34:40 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 6-May-84 07:38:54 EDT
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 19

I've seen these little goodies supplied with some software, too.

My **assumption** was that they consist of a fixed resistor (possibly
two resistors). With a single paddle-port this could be be extended to
"two dimensions" because there are two paddle values that could be
read. There could be several "models" of dongles, each with different
value resistors inside. They would function as a pair of
"fixed-position paddles." That is, the software would read the paddle
ports and require that the values obtained lie within some (programmed)
specific ranges. If the expected values are not read, it bombs out...
This isn't as elegant as a logic-circuitry read/write scheme, but it
sure would be a lot simpler.

Ray mentioned that this method of protection could be circumvented by
hacking the code to eliminate the paddle-port check, but dismissed it
as too difficult. My guess is that the increased degree of difficulty
would only increase the enjoyment obtained by Software SuperBreakers.

keith ericson at teklabs