Hacking attempts rise after flaws found in program affecting 70 percent of websites

Key Points:

• Cybersecurity firm Wiz Research, using OpenAI technology, discovered critical security flaws in PHP, a programming language that supports about 70% of the world's websites, potentially allowing attackers to control servers and steal sensitive data.
• The vulnerabilities, described as some of the most severe in software history, prompted urgent global responses, with governments from the UK, Japan, France, Finland, China, and the US taking immediate action to patch or temporarily take down affected websites.
• The US National Security Agency and the UK's National Cyber Security Center issued warnings urging organizations to update to the latest patched versions to prevent exploitation.
• Tens of thousands of exploitation attempts were detected within minutes of the flaw's discovery, escalating to millions shortly after, highlighting the urgent threat posed by these decades-old vulnerabilities.
• Governments and cybersecurity teams worked quickly to develop and deploy fixes, with some leaders, including Japan's Prime Minister, recommending temporary suspension of websites if patches cannot be promptly applied.