Cybersecurity experts are warning of a new era of AI-powered hacking after researchers uncovered critical vulnerabilities in PHP, a programming language used by around 70% of all websites. Advanced AI models helped identify long-standing security flaws that attackers could exploit to access servers, steal sensitive data, and disrupt online services. The discovery triggered a global response, with authorities and businesses temporarily taking websites offline to install security patches.
Cloudflare reported millions of attempted attacks following the public disclosure. Experts fear AI will help hackers uncover vulnerabilities faster than defenders can fix them, putting greater pressure on organisations to strengthen cybersecurity and update vulnerable systems.