A method is provided for monitoring the integrity of a physical object, wherein the object receives a request of a server via a communication network. The request includes a digital character string, and in response to the received request, an electronic system of the object ascertains the digital fingerprint of the object and combines the ascertained digital fingerprint with a digital secret, which is known to the server and is stored in a memory device, and with the received character string (C) in order to form a response. The object transmits the response to the server via the communication network for analysis.