HASP ( Hardware Against Software Piracy ) is a multi-platform hardware-software system for protecting programs and data from illegal use and unauthorized distribution , developed by Aladdin Knowledge Systems Ltd. According to SoftKey.info in 2005, it was one of the most widely used hardware tools for software protection. [one]
HASP protection includes:
- HASP electronic key ;
- special software for “binding” to an electronic key, application protection and data encryption;
- schemes and methods for protecting programs and data, detecting and combating debuggers , monitoring the integrity of program code and data.
HASP supports most platforms, operating systems and provides developers with a wide range of software protection tools.
HASP electronic keys are issued in the form of various devices:
- HASP SL software key.
- USB stick
- LPT-key with the ability to "transparently" connect other keys and devices;
- PCMCIA card;
- Internal PCI and ISA board.
Content
HASP4 Protection Bypass
At present, there are means of circumventing HASP4 hardware protection (1996) - a “bit hack ” (for example, Sable ) or software emulation of both the key itself and, for example, a USB bus with a virtual key. This vulnerability is used not only by hackers , but also legal ones - in a situation where the use of hardware protection is impossible or undesirable. In some cases, such use of circumvention methods is illegal from the point of view of license agreements and may result in civil or criminal liability in accordance with local law, if there are relevant administrative or criminal articles punishing such acts. For example, on the territory of the Russian Federation, the exception is cases provided for in Article 1280 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation .
Software emulation of the key itself is possible only for old-generation HASP keys - HASP4. For HASP HL, HASP SRM, Sentinel HASP technologies, no hacking cases are currently known. Given the use of fairly reliable public cryptographic algorithms, a similar hacking method in the near future seems unlikely. Therefore, it is important to consider that the reliability of protection mostly depends on the specialist who will implement it in the protected application.
See also
There are other implementations of the idea of physically binding software protection against unauthorized copying or use, for regulating licensing restrictions, for checking authorization when accessing resources:
- Electronic key
- Guardant
- Smart card
- eToken
- Senselock
Notes
- ↑ What can be protected with HASP? , Marat Davletkhanov, softkey.info (Retrieved December 25, 2009)