Abstract: The invention is a method for monitoring a file in a file security system, including providing a first file representation of a file in which the file is disposed at a first location and first processing the first file representation to provide first signals in accordance with the first file representation. The first signals are stored in a central repository disposed at a second location wherein the second location is remote from the first location. A second file representation of the file is provided wherein the file is disposed at a third location remote from the second location. Second processing of the second file representation is performed to provide second signals in accordance with the second file representation. The first signals are accessed from the central repository and the first signals are compared with the second signals. A status of the file is determined in accordance with the comparing.