A method for verifying the authenticity of content created by one host for verification and portability to other hosts includes the steps of creating a data set containing data objects, establishing an authentication code system, authorizing the first host to modify the data set; establishing a valid authentication code for the first host in accordance with the authentication code system, modifying the data set by the first host, signing the data set using the authentication code for the first host, transferring the data set to a second host, determining whether the data set was modified by a host having authority to modify the data set by verifying the authentication code used to sign the data set, and then allowing transfer to and use of the modified data set by the second host so long as the data set was modified by a host having a valid authentication code.