A method of reading with a reader device a composite security marking comprising a physical unclonable function, PUF, and a corresponding first digital signature or a pointer indicating a source where such first digital signature can be accessed, the method comprising the following steps: a stimulation step, wherein a physical challenge according to a predetermined challenge-response authentication scheme corresponding to the PUF is created and applied to a PUF; a detection step, wherein a response generated by the PUF in accordance with the challenge-response authentication scheme in reaction to the challenge is detected and a digital signal representing the response is generated; a processing step, wherein the digital signal is processed in order to generate a hash value of the response by application of a predetermined cryptographic hash function to the digital signal; an output step, wherein data representing the generated hash value as a first reading result is output; and characterized in that it further comprises an acquisition step, wherein the composite security marking is read to acquire said first digital signature from the composite security marking or the source indicated by the pointer, respectively; wherein in the output step a representation of the acquired first digital signature and/or a matching output indicating whether, according to at least one predetermined matching criterion, a hash value provided and signed by the acquired first digital signature matches the hash value generated from the response to the challenge, is output;wherein the acquisition step further comprises acquiring from the composite security marking a second digital signature or a pointer indicating a source where a particular second digital signature pertaining to the marking can be accessed; and wherein the output step further comprises outputting a representation of the acquired second digital signature as a second reading result. a stimulation step, wherein a physical challenge according to a predetermined challenge-response authentication scheme corresponding to the PUF is created and applied to a PUF; a detection step, wherein a response generated by the PUF in accordance with the challenge-response authentication scheme in reaction to the challenge is detected and a digital signal representing the response is generated; a processing step, wherein the digital signal is processed in order to generate a hash value of the response by application of a predetermined cryptographic hash function to the digital signal; an output step, wherein data representing the generated hash value as a first reading result is output; and characterized in that it further comprises an acquisition step, wherein the composite security marking is read to acquire said first digital signature from the composite security marking or the source indicated by the pointer, respectively; wherein in the output step a representation of the acquired first digital signature and/or a matching output indicating whether, according to at least one predetermined matching criterion, a hash value provided and signed by the acquired first digital signature matches the hash value generated from the response to the challenge, is output;wherein the acquisition step further comprises acquiring from the composite security marking a second digital signature or a pointer indicating a source where a particular second digital signature pertaining to the marking can be accessed; and wherein the output step further comprises outputting a representation of the acquired second digital signature as a second reading result. <EOS>