The present invention relates to a technique for authenticating data stored on media in order to prevent piracy. According to the present invention, a lookup table contains broken or modified modulation rules comprising one or more authentication keys or components thereof, that are derived by the table's intentional breaking of standard 8-14 and 8-16 modulation rules. The authentication keys are formed and remain hidden without being transferred in the audio/video. Additionally, the lookup table is employed using conventional hardware and/or software in CD or DVD players. Each output value according to the present invention is a function of the physical characteristics of a disc that does not travel with the audio or video or graphics data. Authentication systems of the present invention optionally encompass singular, multiple or multi-level authentication systems, each of which successively must be deciphered before the audio/video is finally available.