The Nation

AI Uncovers PHP Security Flaws Affecting 70 Percent of Websites

CBS News and NPR reported that artificial intelligence found security weaknesses in PHP, a programming language, as governments respond and hacking attempts rise.

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CBS News reported that artificial intelligence was used to uncover a security weakness that affects most of the world's websites, according to researchers. In its CBS News report, the outlet identified the weakness as a PHP bug affecting 70 percent of the world's websites in its headline, and said it would explain what internet users should know.

NPR reported that governments around the world are rushing to implement safety measures after AI technology found what the outlet described as "severe" vulnerabilities in a key programming language called PHP. The NPR report, written by Kate Bartlett, carries a headline stating that hacking attempts have risen after flaws were found in a program affecting 70 percent of websites.

Both outlets credit AI with finding the flaws. CBS News's summary says AI was used to uncover the weakness, while NPR's summary says AI technology found the vulnerabilities. Both headlines cite the 70 percent figure, but the two reports differ in emphasis. CBS News focuses on what internet users should know about the flaw, while NPR focuses on government responses and a rise in hacking attempts.

The summaries leave several points unclear. They do not describe the technical nature of the PHP vulnerabilities, name the researchers who identified the weakness, or explain how the 70 percent figure was calculated. NPR's headline says hacking attempts rose after the flaws were found, but its summary does not say whether the two developments are directly linked or give figures for the increase.

The summaries also do not identify which governments are acting or what safety measures they are implementing. CBS News's summary does not say what specific steps internet users should take, beyond stating that the outlet would explain what they should know.

This account is based only on the headlines and summaries of the two reports, not on their full text.

Sources: CBS News: What to know about the PHP bug affecting 70% of world's websites; NPR: Hacking attempts rise after flaws found in program affecting 70 percent of websites.