Microcosm Ltd

Microcosm Ltd is a UK company established in 1979. Its early claims to fame included Silicon Disk System in 1981 and Microcache (the world's first disk cache for microcomputers) in 1982.^[1]

Since 1989, it has concentrated on computer security, firstly with CopyControl (a software-based copy protection system), then Dinkey Dongle (small hardware copy protection keys that connect to parallel or USB ports). In 2005, it produced CopyMinder (software-based copy protection that uses the Internet where possible to provide an 'intelligent' copy protection system). More recently, it has expanded its security products by producing SmartSign, a multi-factor authentication system that supports using mobile devices to control access to web pages.

History

• 1979 – Microcosm Limited was established in London (UK)
• 1981 – Silicon Disk System (the world's first RAM disk for microcomputers) released
• 1982 – Microcache (the world's first disk cache for microcomputers) released
• 1989 – CopyControl floppy disk protection released
• 1989 – Microcosm moved to Bristol (UK)
• 1994 – CopyControl UnLock-It software based protection released
• 1995 – Microcosm receives Ziff-Davis Europe award (finalist, best UK product) for CopyControl 1.65
• 1995 – Parallel port Dinkey Dongle released
• 2000 – USB port Dinkey Dongle released
• 2004 – CopyMinder internet-based software protection released
• 2008 – The world's first driverless combined Flash Drive and software protection dongle released
• 2014 – SmartSign released, providing multi-factor authentication^[2]