A method for detection of miniature security mark configurations within documents and images, wherein the miniature security marks are in the form of dispersed miniature security marks and include data marks or a combination of data marks and anchor marks, the method comprising: sub-sampling a received image, wherein said received image comprises a digital representation of at least one possible recipient of the dispersed miniature security marks, wherein said sub-sampling generates a reduced-resolution image of said received image, and wherein each said dispersed miniature security mark is comprised of a plurality of scattered dots; performing maximum/minimum points detection using said reduced resolution image and using a mark feature, said mark feature comprising color difference between the miniature security marks and a background; grouping said maximum/minimum points into at least one cluster according to location distances between said maximum/minimum points; checking group configuration to match said clusters with a pre-defined template configuration; and performing dot parameter verification to verify mark location and mark configuration between said received original resolution image and a pre-defined template dot specification, wherein from each point in the groups that satisfy group configuration checking, the corresponding position in the original image is found, and wherein said mark configuration includes at least one dispersed miniature security mark, wherein said pre-defined template dot specification includes a description of said plurality of scattered dots, wherein said description includes at least one dot parameter selected from the group comprising dot size, the number of said dots in said miniature security mark, and relative dot position. sub-sampling a received image, wherein said received image comprises a digital representation of at least one possible recipient of the dispersed miniature security marks, wherein said sub-sampling generates a reduced-resolution image of said received image, and wherein each said dispersed miniature security mark is comprised of a plurality of scattered dots; performing maximum/minimum points detection using said reduced resolution image and using a mark feature, said mark feature comprising color difference between the miniature security marks and a background; grouping said maximum/minimum points into at least one cluster according to location distances between said maximum/minimum points; checking group configuration to match said clusters with a pre-defined template configuration; and performing dot parameter verification to verify mark location and mark configuration between said received original resolution image and a pre-defined template dot specification, wherein from each point in the groups that satisfy group configuration checking, the corresponding position in the original image is found, and wherein said mark configuration includes at least one dispersed miniature security mark, wherein said pre-defined template dot specification includes a description of said plurality of scattered dots, wherein said description includes at least one dot parameter selected from the group comprising dot size, the number of said dots in said miniature security mark, and relative dot position.