That's because $1 is not defined, since your regexp is not capturing anything; you need parentheses for that. Try this: 

         if ($lastname =~ /^([\s\w.'-]+)$/ && length($lastname) < 28) 
+{
                $lastname = $1;                     # $data now untain
+ted

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the lowliest monk

In reply to Re: taint problem by tlm
in thread taint problem by Anonymous Monk

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