A method of authenticating a device involves establishing a local connection between a local target device and a local source device; at the source device, obtaining credentials of the target device via the local connection; at the source device, sending the credentials to a cloud authentication server via a secure communication channel; at the cloud authentication server, checking the credentials of the target device against a database of known good devices; at the source device, receiving a message from the cloud authentication server via the secure communication channel, said message indicating that the target device is authenticated; and delivering content from the source device to the target device on the condition that the target device is authenticated. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.