So many sites down due to one leak: how is that possible? And are your data safe?

A significant security vulnerability in PHP has led to numerous websites, including major platforms, going offline as a precaution. The flaw was revealed by the PHP organization, prompting hackers to exploit it before a fix was available. The vulnerabilities, rated 9.2 on the CVE scale, could allow unauthorized access to websites and user data theft. While no confirmed breaches have been reported yet, the risk remains high, especially for sites that do not regularly update their software. The recent incident highlights the internet's reliance on a limited number of programming languages, making it susceptible to widespread issues. A patch has been released, and affected sites are expected to come back online soon, although potential server overloads could delay this.