AI Finds Serious Security Flaw in Common Website Software
Listen to the story
Many websites use a computer program called PHP. This program helps websites work. About 70 percent of all websites on the internet use PHP.
Scientists used AI to check PHP for problems. AI means a smart computer system. The AI found big security problems in PHP. Security means keeping something safe from bad people.
These problems are called vulnerabilities. A vulnerability is a weak point that bad people can use. This find is named PHP2Shell.
The vulnerabilities let hackers take control of a website. This type of attack is called RCE. RCE means a hacker can run commands on another computer from far away.
After the news came out, more hackers tried to attack websites. Some websites had to shut down to stay safe. Shut down means to stop working for a time.
This story shows AI can find computer problems fast. It also shows the whole internet can be at risk from one small program.
Vocabulary6 words
- PHP
- a computer program many websites use
- AI
- a smart computer system that can think and learn
- security
- keeping something safe from bad people
- vulnerabilities
- weak points that bad people can use
- PHP2Shell
- the name given to this group of computer problems
- RCE
- when a hacker controls a computer from far away
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A computer program used by many websites 2. By using AI 3. More hacking attempts happened
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Many websites use a computer program called _____. This program helps websites work. About _____ percent of all websites on the internet use PHP.
Scientists used _____ to check PHP for problems. The AI found big _____ problems in PHP.
These problems are called _____. This find is named _____.
The vulnerabilities let hackers take control of a website. This type of attack is called _____.
After the news came out, more hackers tried to attack websites. Some websites had to _____ to stay safe.
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