A computer-implemented method for determining whether a mark is genuine, the method comprising: (a) receiving a captured image of a genuine mark; (b) measuring, using the captured image, a characteristic of the genuine mark at a plurality of locations within the genuine mark, resulting in a set of metrics for the characteristic, wherein the plurality of locations have a plurality of associated location identifiers; (c) generating, using the set of metrics, an electronic signature for the genuine mark; (d) extracting a waveform from the set of metrics, wherein the waveform is extracted from a set of ordered pairs, wherein a pair is formed by a metric versus identifier of location in the mark where the metric was obtained, and the set of metrics is ordered according to the location identifiers; (e) dividing the waveform into a plurality of sections along a location identifier axis; (f) for each section of the plurality of sections, determining a mean value of the waveform within the section; assigning a numerical value using the mean value, resulting in a set of numerical values; (g) forming a hash identifier for the genuine mark from the set of numerical values; (h) storing the hash identifier in a database in association with the electronic signature of the genuine mark, wherein the database includes a plurality of electronic signatures of genuine marks and a plurality of hash identifiers, each electronic signature being associated with its own hash identifier, and is maintained on one or more media storage devices; (i) receiving a request to determine whether a candidate mark is genuine; and (j) comparing a hash identifier of the candidate mark with one or more of the plurality of hash identifiers in the database in order to locate at least one possibly-matching electronic signature of a genuine mark, wherein the hash identifier of the candidate mark is formed using the steps (b) - (g) for a captured image of the candidate mark. (a) receiving a captured image of a genuine mark; (b) measuring, using the captured image, a characteristic of the genuine mark at a plurality of locations within the genuine mark, resulting in a set of metrics for the characteristic, wherein the plurality of locations have a plurality of associated location identifiers; (c) generating, using the set of metrics, an electronic signature for the genuine mark; (d) extracting a waveform from the set of metrics, wherein the waveform is extracted from a set of ordered pairs, wherein a pair is formed by a metric versus identifier of location in the mark where the metric was obtained, and the set of metrics is ordered according to the location identifiers; (e) dividing the waveform into a plurality of sections along a location identifier axis; (f) for each section of the plurality of sections, determining a mean value of the waveform within the section; assigning a numerical value using the mean value, resulting in a set of numerical values; determining a mean value of the waveform within the section; assigning a numerical value using the mean value, (g) forming a hash identifier for the genuine mark from the set of numerical values; (h) storing the hash identifier in a database in association with the electronic signature of the genuine mark, wherein the database includes a plurality of electronic signatures of genuine marks and a plurality of hash identifiers, each electronic signature being associated with its own hash identifier, and is maintained on one or more media storage devices; includes a plurality of electronic signatures of genuine marks and a plurality of hash identifiers, each electronic signature being associated with its own hash identifier, and is maintained on one or more media storage devices; (i) receiving a request to determine whether a candidate mark is genuine; and (j) comparing a hash identifier of the candidate mark with one or more of the plurality of hash identifiers in the database in order to locate at least one possibly-matching electronic signature of a genuine mark, wherein the hash identifier of the candidate mark is formed using the steps (b) - (g) for a captured image of the candidate mark.