1. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed cause a processor to: extract a print signature from an interior of a halftone of an image of printed media, wherein the halftone is encoded with payload information; compare the print signature to a reference signature stored in a registry to determine differences between the print signature and the reference signature; and perform a forensic-level statistical image analysis on the print signature and the reference signature based on the comparison to authenticate the printed media.