What is the primary purpose of a software dongle when distributing commercial software?

• A. To enforce copyright protection
• B. To provide source code protection
• C. To enable wireless functionality
• D. To prevent keyloggers

Answer: (A)

A hardware dongle serves as a physical license key that the software must detect to run. By requiring the dongle to be present and valid, the software ties its operation to a specific licensed item, making it difficult for unauthorized copies to execute. This hardware-based check deters piracy by enforcing that only users who possess the dongle (and thus have a legitimate license) can access the program, sometimes even extending to specific features or expiration terms stored on the device. It’s not about protecting source code, enabling wireless features, or guarding against keyloggers, so the primary purpose is enforcing licensing and copyright protection through a tangible, tamper-resistant key.