A protected item represents a special structure in the dongle memory used for protected storage of data. The protected items are accessed not by their addresses in the dongle memory but by their logic number. As a result we have more simplified operation with the dongle memory, since there is no need to calculate the data addresses to be accessed. This also simplifies the modification of the protection.
You can set passwords for accessing data stored in protected items: separately for reading and for writing. At the same time you can set read and write locks for protected items, which allows setting protected items for reading or for writing only.
Another very important feature is password-protected activation and deactivation of protected items. With this, the data structure allows introducing prompt and safe changes, for instance, during upgrades to a new version or for activating additional functions of the application.
Protected items are used for storing descriptors of hardware algorithms, LMS license tables and other data. See details in Chapter 10. Protected Items.