A method, system, computer program product, and method of doing business by digitally
notarizing a collection of data streams, thereby improving security of the contents
of the data streams. Preferably, public key cryptography is used, wherein the collection
of data streams is digitally signed (i.e. notarized) using a private cryptographic
key of a digital notary, such that an associated public cryptographic key can be
used to verify the authenticity and integrity of the collection of data streams.
One or more components which are involved in creating the data streams are preferably
authenticated, and a unique identifier of each such component is included within
cryptographically-protected information that is provided for the digital notarization.
The authenticated identities of the components can therefore be determined from
the digital notarization.