How to clone USB license key

Posted by Stanley on January 16th, 2020

How to clone USB dongle?

How does dongle work?

How a dongle works may be a mystery to some readers. HASP key technology makes use of dedicated microcircuits or microcontrollers that are read-protected. Each key contains a unique operational algorithm. There also has a limited capacity for protected non-volatile memory. Some advanced security keys also are equipped with encryption capabilities by the use of a crypto-processor and a clock. The physical appearance of security keys can vary, but the most common connectivity method is through a USB port. Some dongles connect with LPT or PCMCIA interfaces.

Here’s how a hardware security key works. The device is connected to the designated type of computer interface. It then communicates with the software program it is protecting via a dedicated driver and returns data to the application based on its programmed algorithm. If the key provides the proper answer to the apps query, the program continues to operate. If the answer is incorrect, certain functions of the application are disabled or it may be put into a limited demonstration mode.

Dongle cloning issues

There are some high-end USB dongles that provide an option for network management. When this option is employed, the same license can be used by multiple users on a local network. If your team is located in a single room, using this capability makes it unnecessary to have a physical dongle on each machine.

Not all software security keys offer this level of functionality. Many are manufactured to be used on a specific machine. If you try to share these dongles, the security data will not be communicated to the target application. Then, the question becomes how to clone a USB key so it can be used by several machines simultaneously.

 You can also run into issues when the application that the dongle is meant to unlock is not supported by your operating system. One way around this problem is to use a virtual machine created with Hyper-V, VirtualBox or VMware. The VM route presents another complication. You now need to find a method of accessing a local USB device from within the virtual environment. How can you clone a dongle USB key and make it available in your VM?

HASP key clone solution

Donglify is an efficient solution to the problem of creating a USB security dongle clone.

The tool is available as a dongle clone software and enables you to work with many different dongle keys. It’s really easy to clone a USB dongle with Donglify! It allows you to use the security key across a network and to share its functionality with the remote users regardless of their distance from the actual device.

It’s easy to clone a USB dongle using Donglify. It allows you to use the security key across a network, allowing its functionality to be shared with remote users regardless of their distance from the actual device. 

Here is how to clone a USB license key:

1. First of all, go to the Donglify website and create your personal account.  

2. Then, download the dongle cloning software on all PCs that need to get dongle clones. Also, install the app on the computer (server) where the device you are going to clone is attached directly.  

3. After you have finished with the installation, start the software on the server machine and click “Plus” in the window that will appear. What you’ll see is the list of USB security dongles that can be cloned. 

4. Check the radio button in front of the required device and click “Share”. 

5. On a remote computer, start Donglify and log in to your account using the same credentials. 

6. In the software interface, locate the USB dongle you need and hit “Connect”. As a result, a USB security dongle clone will appear on this remote PC. 

Note that after you clone a USB dongle with Donglify, you can use the device’s virtual copies on multiple remote computers at a time! All you need to do is click “Connect” on every machine that wants to access a shared USB key.