SecureMetric Products

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is the SecureDongle password secure enough?
A: Yes, it is very secure. SecureDongle password is actually a set of four individual passwords that segregate into two security levels. The two Basic passwords (P1 and P2) are first level control authorized read-only access to the dongle. Read and Write access is authorized only with the combination of the Basic and Advanced password sets. The Advanced password (P3 and P4) is used for developers only and should not be included inside the protected software application that will be delivered to the end user. In addition, the dongle will be locked for up for 2 seconds if someone enter the incorrect Advanced level passwords up to four consecutive times. No operation will be accepted during this “locked” period. This feature is designed to protect SecureDongle from hackers who attempt programmatic methods (brute force) of cracking the dongle.

2. What are “same-password” SecureDongles?
A: “Same-password” SecureDongles are a set of dongles with the same passwords set by our init tool. It is quite necessary for our customers who distribute software products in bulk, with “same-password” dongles; they only need to compile their software application once before distribution.

3. Can SecureDongle be shared with data sharing device?
A: It is quite easy to prevent data sharing devices from doing this. Just generate a random number when the program starts, and write this number in a specific address in the SecureDongle, then check for the number in that specified address when the program is running. If another computer is also running this program during the same time period with the same dongle, a new random number will be overwritten to the address.

4. Will the performance of an application be affected unfavorably if developer write a complex algorithm in the SecureDongle?
A: No. According to the results of our tests, the performance difference between the simplest algorithm and the most complex one may be just within milliseconds. You will notice no difference at all as long as you do not call the algorithm too frequent.

5. Why does an unknown device display in the list after the SecureDongle was plugged in?
A: It may be caused by interference or bad contact points. Try unplugging the device and then plugging it in again or try to plug the device into another USB slot or try another computer.

6. My computer has a USB port and I installed WINDOWS98 OS. Why I cannot see the USB device in the list of device manager?
A: It is possible that the USB support option inside the BIOS has been disabled. You can enable USB support in the CMOS functions menu when your computer is booting up.

7. How can I update the SecureDongle software?
A: We will always keep our customer informed on any latest update via our newsletters or you can visit to our website www.securemetric.com and download if there is any new update.

8. Why the system cannot find the SecureDongle.dll while running the FoxPro and VB program with API protection?
A: Applications programmed in FoxPro and VB will search required dynamic-linked-library under system directory only, in such manner, you have to put SecureDongle.dll into “C:\Windows\system32” directly.