A method is provided for authenticating a log message in a distributed network having a plurality of nodes coupled to a serial bus. In the method, a log session is started by a first device at a first node of the plurality of nodes. A first counter value is provided by the first device to the serial bus. A log message is generated by a second device at a second node of the plurality of nodes. A second counter value is generated by the second device. A log message payload is generated for the log message, wherein the log message payload includes a log message authentication code. A computation of the log message authentication code includes the first counter value and the second counter value. The second device does not store the first counter value in a non-volatile memory on the second device.