Methods for authenticating an article with a cyanoacrylate solution comprising a water soluble security marker compound are described. The methods for producing a nucleophilic security marker/cyanoacrylate solution as well as methods for labeling an item and detecting the nucleophilic security marker/cyanoacrylate from an item being authenticated are also described. A method for using a nucleophilic cyanoacrylate security marker for antitheft purposes is also described.