Digital camera for authenticating a digital visual image

A digital camera and method are disclosed for verifying that a particular digitized visual image was produced by the digital camera. A visual image is stored in a digital format in the camera. A digital signature is generated for the image utilizing the camera only in response to the storage of the image in the particular camera which captured the image. The digital signature associates the stored image with the camera. The digital signature is stored only in the camera separately from the image in the camera. The digital signature is capable of being utilized only within the camera which generated the signature. It is not accessible outside of the particular camera which generated the signature. The signature is inaccessible to devices other than the camera. Subsequently, a digital visual image may be authenticated as being produced by this digital camera utilizing the digital signature stored in the digital camera. Only this digital camera is capable of authenticating images which were produced by this camera. Images produced by other digital cameras will not be authenticated by this camera. A digital camera will authenticate only unaltered images which were originally captured by this particular digital camera.