1. A method for authorizing an transaction comprising: receiving, at a first party, a request to conduct a transaction from a second Party; receiving, at the first party, an electronic image file comprising image data and nonimage data, the image data comprising a plurality of bits that define an image and the nonimage data comprising a plurality of bits that do not define the image, wherein altering the nonimage data has no effect on the appearance of the image; using a processor, verifying an identity of the second party based on the nonimage data; and using the computer processor, authorizing the transaction.