1. A method, comprising: receiving data via an electronic network; segmenting the data into data items; isolating one of the data items to obtain a selected data item; processing the selected data item in accordance with a first processing technique to obtain a first characteristic metric; processing the selected data item in accordance with a second processing technique to obtain a second characteristic metric, wherein the second processing technique is different from the first processing technique; combining the first and second characteristic metrics to obtain an aggregate thumbprint of the selected data item; and comparing the aggregate thumbprint to a plurality of aggregate thumbprints stored in a library of aggregate thumbprints to determine whether a match exists between the aggregate thumbprint and any of the aggregate thumbprints in the library of aggregate thumbprints, wherein processing comprises adding to a counter when a subsequent byte has an ASCII value greater than an immediately prior byte, and subtracting from the counter when a subsequent byte has an ASCII vale that is less than an immediately prior byte.