A method for performing an electronic transaction is disclosed. The method provides authentication data and authentication software to an electronic device and preferably stored in a secure storage location or other location inaccessible to the user or the operating system of the device. When digital data is requested from a transaction party that requests a digital signature, the authentication software is activated to generate said digital signature from the authentication data. Next, the digital signature is provided to the other transaction party, which then provides the requested digital data. The digital signature may be embedded in the requested and provided digital data. Further, a method for performing a verification of legitimate use of digital data is disclosed. Digital data digitally signed according to the present invention may only be accessed if the embedded digital signature is identical to a regenerated digital signature that is regenerated by the authentication software, using user inaccessible authentication data installed on the device. If the embedded and regenerated digital signatures are not identical, the data may not be accessed and an error signal is generated.