Systems and methods for authenticating firmware stored on an integrated circuit

The invention discloses a method of authenticating data stored in an integrated circuit. The method includes storing randomized data in the integrated circuit such that the randomized data occupies each address space of the memory circuit that is not occupied by the stored data. The method also includes generating a first digital signature using the integrated circuit in response to authenticating a concatenation of the stored data and the first copy of randomized data. The method further includes generating a second digital signature in response to authenticating concatenation of a manufacturer-provided copy of the stored data and the second copy of randomized data using a computer-implemented authentication application and authenticating the data stored in the integrated circuit according to whether the first signature matches the second signature.