A computer-implemented method for embedding data in a digital image that is used to

authenticate the image, comprising the steps of:

* a) dividing said image into groups of M rectilinear blocks;

* b) calculating a property value of each said block;
* c) defining a mapping function that maps said property value of each said block onto a 0 or a
1 bit;
* d) embedding said 0 or 1 bit associated to each said block in accordance with the following
steps, with a variable L=(a1 -b1) when |a1 -b1|<=d, where a1 is a number of microblocks with a
first property value equal to a pre-specified lower bound value and having an inherently
embedded bit opposite of a bit to be embedded, b1 is a number of microblocks with a second
property value equal to a pre-specified upper bound value and having an inherently embedded bit
opposite of a bit to be embedded, d is a number of microblocks with a property value between
said pre-specified lower bound value and said pre-specified upper bound value and having an
inherently embedded bit opposite of a bit to be embedded, I is a macroaverage value, I1 is a
quantized macroaverage value, γ is a macroblock property value interval, Δ is an amount
by which a change in the microblock property value will not exceed, and D is a set of
microblocks with a property value between said pre-specified lower value and said
pre-specified upper value and having an inherently embedded bit opposite of a bit to
be embedded:
o i) increasing a1 's by Δ;
o ii) decreasing b1 's by Δ;
o iii) increasing a property value associated with each of |L| microblocks of D
by Δ when L<0;
o iv) decreasing said property value associated with each of |L| microblocks of
D by Δ when L>=0; and
o v) adjusting the remaining D microblocks.