Wire · technology
What is PHP, and how did a flaw in its code lead several websites to go dark this week?
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Fusion42 · 23 October 2026 · Fusion42 review
A critical vulnerability in the PHP coding language, which powers around 70-75% of websites globally including Canadian government sites, was discovered after years of exposure, forcing many websites to go offline for urgent fixes.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Enterprise Software, and 24 sources have reported it between 21 Oct 2026 and 23 Oct 2026.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
The foundational technology that runs most websites just showed its age and exposure risk. You must act this week to audit your site dependencies and patch PHP if you want to avoid sudden outages or data breaches.
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24 sources · first reported 21 Oct 2026 · latest 23 Oct 2026
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