2000 Tech Tip: Frequently Asked Questions About Malicious Web Scripts Redirected by Web Sites
• SEI Report
Publisher
Software Engineering Institute
Topic or Tag
Abstract
A problem has recently been identified that can be found on a wide variety of web sites: what you receive from a web site may not be what that site meant to send. If you click on a specially designed link, the site may unknowingly send you bad data, unwanted pictures, and programs (malicious scripts) to compromise your data.
The problem is not with web browsers themselves but with how web pages are constructed and how data entering and leaving web sites is validated. "Validate" means ensuring no "unintended" characters are sent back to the client.
This document includes:
- frequently asked questions
- steps for changing your options in web browsers
Part of a Collection
CERT Tech Tips
Cite This SEI Report
Software Engineering Institute (2000, December 31). 2000 Tech Tip: Frequently Asked Questions About Malicious Web Scripts Redirected by Web Sites. Retrieved August 13, 2026, from https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/2000-tech-tip-frequently-asked-questions-about-malicious-web-scripts-redirected-by-web-sites/.
@techreport{Citekey_2000,
author={Software Engineering Institute},
title={2000 Tech Tip: Frequently Asked Questions About Malicious Web Scripts Redirected by Web Sites},
month={Dec},
year={2000},
institution={Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University},
url={https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/2000-tech-tip-frequently-asked-questions-about-malicious-web-scripts-redirected-by-web-sites/},
note={Accessed: 2026-Aug-13}
}
Software Engineering Institute. "2000 Tech Tip: Frequently Asked Questions About Malicious Web Scripts Redirected by Web Sites." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, December 31, 2000. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/2000-tech-tip-frequently-asked-questions-about-malicious-web-scripts-redirected-by-web-sites/.
Software Engineering Institute, "2000 Tech Tip: Frequently Asked Questions About Malicious Web Scripts Redirected by Web Sites," Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University. Software Engineering Institute, 31-Dec-2000 [Online]. Available: https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/2000-tech-tip-frequently-asked-questions-about-malicious-web-scripts-redirected-by-web-sites/. [Accessed: 13-Aug-2026].
Software Engineering Institute. "2000 Tech Tip: Frequently Asked Questions About Malicious Web Scripts Redirected by Web Sites." Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Software Engineering Institute, 31 Dec. 2000. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/2000-tech-tip-frequently-asked-questions-about-malicious-web-scripts-redirected-by-web-sites/. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.
Software Engineering Institute. 2000 Tech Tip: Frequently Asked Questions About Malicious Web Scripts Redirected by Web Sites. Software Engineering Institute. 2000. https://www.sei.cmu.edu/library/2000-tech-tip-frequently-asked-questions-about-malicious-web-scripts-redirected-by-web-sites/