hasP

Hasp, commonly written as HASP, stands for Hardware Against Software Piracy. It refers to a family of hardware-based protection devices, typically small USB dongles, that enforce software licensing by requiring the physical key to be present for the protected application to run. The HASP family was originally developed by Aladdin Knowledge Systems and has since been owned by SafeNet, Gemalto, and Thales, with the product line often marketed under the Sentinel umbrella. HASP dongles contain cryptographic keys and license data and perform checks to verify the software license, reducing dependence on online activation alone.

Software developers implement HASP protection using a software development kit (SDK) that communicates with the dongle via USB. Licensing models supported by HASP include node-locked licenses, tied to a specific dongle, and floating licenses, managed by a license server that allocates licenses to users as needed. Licenses can be time-limited or feature-based, enabling different capabilities or durations. Protection can be configured so that offline use remains possible with an offline license, while online validation may be required periodically. The dongle approach provides a layer of security by keeping license data separate from the host system and by requiring cryptographic verification during startup.

Security and limitations: HASP relies on tamper-resistant hardware and cryptographic protocols to deter unauthorized use. While effective for many use cases, dongles can be lost or damaged, and determined attackers may attempt to bypass or emulate them. Vendors commonly supplement HASP with additional measures, such as code obfuscation or server-side checks, to strengthen protection.

Current status: HASP remains a significant option within the broader Sentinel licensing ecosystem, which has evolved to support online activation, cloud-hosted license management, and a range of hardware- and software-based licensing solutions.