1. A method for streaming media over a network, comprising: receiving in a first device an openly accessible data object comprising digital data and file format information; said first device embedding independent data into the openly accessible data object and then scrambling the openly accessible data object to perceptibly degrade the openly accessible data object to a predetermined signal quality level where at least a portion of the independent data can be decoded from the scrambled openly accessible data object; said first device repeatedly performing the steps of embedding and scrambling until a predetermined condition is met wherein the predetermined condition comprises reaching a desired signal quality level of the openly accessible data object, the repeated steps resulting in generation of an openly accessible data object having the desired signal quality; said first device transmitting said openly accessible data object having the desired signal quality over a network; a second device receiving over the network a signal stream comprising the said openly accessible data object having the desired signal quality; said second device receiving a first key; said second device applying a key based descrambling algorithm which takes as inputs at least one key and a signal stream and produces as output a descrambling algorithm output signal, to said first key and said signal stream, to produce a signal stream descrambling algorithm output signal; and said second device generating at least one of an audible and a visual signal, based upon said signal stream descrambling algorithm output signal.