Flaw in PHP computer language leads to shutdown of websites around world
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What's this about?
Precautionary takedowns come as experts say bad actors could exploit vulnerability in language used by 70% of sites Websites around the globe have gone dark after a serious vulnerability was found in a computer language used to build much of the world wide web. Belgian, Dutch, Finnish, French and Ge
The one-panel cartoon
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A server room filled with blinking lights and computer racks, where a programmer is frantically updating code on a laptop while another technician holds up a sign that reads 'PHP-ocalypse Now'.
Caption: When the programming gets too buggy, just unplug it.
Read the full 3-panel strip
Based on the original story on theguardian.com.
Editor's note
This incident underscores the critical importance of ongoing security assessments in our digital infrastructure. While it's reassuring to see a proactive response to potential threats, it also highlights the risks inherent in relying so heavily on any single technology.
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Panel 1
(a) What the subject of this story actually is and does: PHP is a server-side scripting language used to create dynamic web pages and applications. It is widely used by many websites to generate content, handle forms, and manage databases. (b) The ONE real irony or absurdity in the news: The irony lies in the fact that a single vulnerability in PHP, a language so integral to the web, could bring down a significant portion of global websites. This highlights the fragility of our digital infrastructure and the reliance on a single technology. (c) The single funniest observation that becomes the highlight: The highlight is the idea that a simple flaw in PHP could turn off the lights for 70% of the internet, making it seem like a digital apocalypse caused by a single line of code. ---
Panel 2
A server room. Rows of humming servers, with a technician standing in front of a large monitor displaying PHP code. Technician (muttering to themselves)
Technician: I can't believe this one line of code brought down half the internet.
Panel 3
A busy office with multiple desks, computers, and phones ringing off the hook. Employees are looking worried, with one employee holding up their phone to show a blank screen.
Employee 1: Our site's down again? What's going on?
Employee 2: Some bug in PHP. It's like everyone decided to turn off their lights at once.
Panel 4
A living room. A family is gathered around a small TV, trying to access different websites but seeing only error messages. The father, wearing pajamas, is on his laptop while the mother and children look on with concern. Father (sighing)
Father: Can't believe we're living through a digital blackout because of some coding mistake.
Mother: Maybe we should learn to code, just in case.
Father: Or maybe we should learn to live without the internet.
Highlight: The father's deadpan response encapsulates the absurdity of the situation, highlighting the vulnerability of the digital world we rely on.
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