1. A method for a host device to authenticate a storage device having a plurality of unit storage areas, the method comprising: obtaining information associated with a positional distribution of defect reference areas used for uniquely identifying the storage device; sampling the unit storage areas of the storage device; identifying a positional distribution of areas having physical defects from among the sampled areas; determining similarity between the obtained positional distribution and the identified positional distribution; and authenticating the storage device based on a result of the determination.