SureSign - A Technology Overview

SureSign is a powerful new technology which helps protect digital images by embedding within them an invisible and secure identifier referred to as a fingerprint. The fingerprint, which is interwoven throughout the entire image, becomes an integral part of the image data and is virtually impossible to remove but is so constructed as to minimise any degradation of the image data. The method of coding used provides an inherently high level of security.

The SureSign fingerprint can survive significant transformations such as cropping, rotation and compression. In addition, fingerprints data embedded in digital files which are subsequently output to print is retained and may be recovered from the hard copy. The SureSign fingerprint enables data to be stored that identifies user-defined criteria such as ownership, user and specific transaction details, which can subsequently be verified or tracked to facilitate copyright protection, reduce the risk of counterfeiting and/or confirm data integrity.

As an enabling technology, SureSign fingerprinting can be implemented as a plug-in to existing applications such as Internet browsers or image editing tools (e.g. Photoshop) or, via an SDK, integrated into third-party systems - both hardware and software - in different application areas. The core technology lends itself to all types of data formats, including continuous tone images, bitmaps, audio and video.

SureSign Features Summary

1. Interweaves an identifying code (fingerprint) throughout digital image data.
2. Provides ready-made or customised solutions.
3. Fingerprint survives common filters e.g. blurring, sharpening.
4. Fingerprint survives JPEG compression with ratios as high as 30:1.
5. Fingerprint detectable from resized data.
6. Fingerprint detectable from scans of printed data.
7. Fingerprint detectable from small subsamples of image (50K bytes).
8. Minimal memory requirements for writing and detecting.
9. Identifying code concealed by a permutation, unique to each user.
10. Permutation methods provide more options than commonly used in RSA or DES coding.
11. The three main parameters - visibility, robustness and information content - are easily customised according to need.
12. Fingerprint detection software is freely available for general use (Public Registry based system only).
13. Fingerprints can be constructed to be readable only by selected users.
14. Fingerprints may be undeclared ('secret') for security reasons.
15. For security applications, a fingerprint is detectable from a scanned-in image file of an area as small as five square centimetres.
16. Personalised currency or vouchers can be validated by using three or four independent fingerprints.
17. Ancillary software - VeriData - guarantees detection of any changes to data, e.g. crime scene images may be fingerprinted to carry data of relevance and then validated to ensure the data is not subsequently modified.

A variety of implementations on different platforms is available, including Windows NT/95, MacOS and Sun Solaris. Fingerprint detectors are available free from the Signum Web site.

For further information please see our user applications and products pages.