1. A method for preventing unauthorized use of digital content data in a computer system comprising: executing protected digital content data; reading an area of a memory in the computer system, in response to the executing of the protected digital content data; comparing the read area to at least one known signature of an emulated or virtual environment; determining whether the computer system includes the emulated or virtual environment based on a result of the comparing; and initiating a defensive action in response to a determination by the determining that the computer system includes the emulated or virtual environment.