1. A system for secure operation of a software application, the system comprising: a source of entropy for generation of a secret value; a provisioning mechanism for binding the secret value to one or more portions of the software application so as to form a protected program; and a trusted signing authority in communication with the provisioning mechanism, the provisioning mechanism further binding the secret value to the trusted signing authority; wherein the trusted signing authority in conjunction with the secret value provides verification of the protected program.