29. A system for extracting data from network-based information in a communication network having a plurality of network servers programmed to transmit network-based information over the network, comprising: a computer, coupled to said communication network; an object embedding program, executed by the computer in the communication network, structured to locate a script program from a link associated with the object embedding program, and to apply the script program to network-based information provided by one of the network servers, the object embedding program being linked to the script program by a link associated with the object embedding program, wherein the object embedding program is structured to execute the script program to extract data from the network-based information provided by one of the network servers, wherein the link from which the object embedding program can locate the script program is a link to the network-based information, and the network-based information in turn comprises a link to the script program; and wherein the object embedding program is structured to continue executing the script program to embed the data in a compound document displayed on the computer.
40. The system of claim 29 , wherein the script program is digitally signed by a trusted third party.