Read_950 - The Internet Is Under Attack

— CrowdStrike reports AI-driven cyberattacks more than doubled in August and again in September, marking a structural shift in internet security threats.

— A critical PHP vulnerability affecting roughly 70% of websites was exploited within hours of disclosure, with millions of attack attempts already underway.

— AI now enables attackers to detect software weaknesses automatically, break into systems autonomously, and operate without human intervention at minimal cost (~$50 per breach).

— Defenders lag significantly behind; patching critical bugs takes approximately two weeks on average, and roughly half of internet-facing servers running vulnerable software cannot receive official fixes.

— Social engineering through AI-generated deepfake audio and video—including empathetic virtual personas—poses severe fraud and scam risks, especially targeting isolated individuals.

— The economics of attack versus defense have fundamentally shifted; offense currently outpaces defense, necessitating structural changes to how the web handles trust, authentication, and private versus public spaces.

— Update all devices (phone, computer, router, browser) immediately; use only official update channels and never install updates from pop-ups, texts, or emails.

— Enable two-step login on email and bank accounts, use unique passwords with a password manager, and never trust links or phone numbers provided in unsolicited communications—always verify independently by calling the number on your card or visiting the official website directly.

— Hold Bitcoin keys independently in hardware wallets such as a Bitbox rather than on exchanges, given the rapid expansion of unauthorized AI agents attempting account takeovers and the broader erosion of trust in centralized remote systems.