A method authenticates at least one of a media and data stored on said media in order to prevent at least one of piracy, unauthorized access and unauthorized copying of the data stored on said media. At least one predetermined error is introduced with the data resulting in mixed data. The mixed data is optionally stored on the media. The at least one predetermined error includes at least one authentication key or component thereof, for authenticating whether the media and/or data is authorized. The method includes the following sequential, non-sequential and/or sequence independent steps: reading the mixed data from the media, detecting the at least one predetermined error from the mixed data, and comparing the at least one predetermined error to the at least one authentication key or component thereof. The method also includes the steps of authenticating the media and/or the data in the mixed data responsive to the comparing, removing the at least one predetermined error from the mixed data resulting in substantially the data, and outputting the data as at least one of audio, video, audio data, video data and digital data substantially free of the at least one predetermined error.