A method and apparatus for restricting the use of a disc are provided. In this method, first, lead-in data is read out from a loaded disc. Then, a user key is read out from a lead-in area of the disc. Thereafter, the user key undergoes authentication based on a user key received from a host. The authentication is performed by comparing a random number produced by a disc drive with a decrypted random number obtained by the disc drive decrypting a random number encrypted by the host. Accordingly, the use of the disc by an unauthorized third person is restricted, thus preventing a leakage of personal information and a protection of the copyrights of data.