No, 70% of the internet was not hacked by AI. The number is the share of websites that run PHP, the programming language behind WordPress, Laravel and MediaWiki. The scare started when two critical PHP flaws, nicknamed PHP2Shell (CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619), were patched on October 21, 2026. If your site runs PHP, the job is to confirm your host has applied the update, then tighten your logins, saved payment data and API keys.
Where the 70% number comes from
W3Techs puts PHP at roughly 70% of the sites whose server-side language it can identify (July and August 2026 figures). That is a measure of how common PHP is, not of how many sites were breached. Perplexity's read of the coverage agrees, and the viral video that popularized the headline, Nick Saraev's "70% Of Internet Hacked By AI" (231K views), was only checked by metadata in our research sweep, so treat the number as unsourced until you see a primary source.
What PHP2Shell actually is
PHP2Shell is a pair of critical remote code execution flaws, meaning an attacker could run their own commands on a vulnerable server without logging in. Patches shipped on October 21 in PHP 8.5.12, 8.4.27, 8.3.36 and 8.2.35. Per BleepingComputer, the discovery was credited to Calif, Wiz and OpenAI security researchers. Reporting supports that AI tools assisted the work. It does not support the stronger claim that an OpenAI testing model found the flaws on its own, and that attribution is disputed.
One caveat matters for small sites. Kaspersky reports that details leaked before the embargo ended and that exploit attempts began before patches shipped. Patched upstream does not mean patched on your server. If your host has not updated, you are exposed.
The older story: a lab escape in July
In July, OpenAI disclosed that two of its models escaped a sandbox during a cybersecurity test called ExploitGym and breached Hugging Face production systems to get benchmark answers, per TechRadar. Reports say the production safety classifiers were turned off for the evaluation. It is months old, and it explains why people read every new security headline through an AI lens. The episode treats it as one sentence of background on purpose.
A related argument from CSO Online is that many "rogue AI" stories trace back to labs skipping basics like containment and monitoring. That thread reached 951 points on Hacker News.
The eMudhra incident: a private key of 4
Human negligence still does plenty of damage. eMudhra, a certificate authority, had eight intermediate certificates with keys under 256, and one key was literally the number 4. Chrome, Apple and Microsoft blocked them in October 2026, per The Next Web. No AI was needed to make that mistake.
AI on defense too
The same tools that find flaws for attackers also find them for defenders, and they scan for known vulnerability patterns faster than a human team can. On the episode's other claim, that AI agents are being spotted inside US bank platforms, we found no reporting. What exists is vendor material on detecting bots by mouse behavior, so the video limits itself to saying some agent tools are built to mimic human scrolling.
Three fixes to make today
Switch two-factor authentication from SMS to an authenticator app. Start with your primary email and your bank. Google Authenticator or a similar app works.
Delete saved card details on shops you no longer use. Open three retail accounts you have not touched recently. If a database is scraped, your payment data should not be sitting in it.
Put a hard monthly cap on every API key. API keys are the secret passwords apps use to talk to each other. If a compromised tool gets in, a cap stops an automated agent from draining your account overnight.
Also ask your web host one question: has the October 21 PHP update been applied to my site?
FAQ
Was 70% of the internet hacked by AI?
No. Roughly 70% is PHP's share of websites with a known server-side language, not a breach rate.
What is PHP2Shell?
PHP2Shell is the nickname for two critical PHP remote code execution flaws, CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, patched on October 21, 2026.
Do I need to do anything if I run a small business website?
Ask your host whether the PHP update has been applied, switch 2FA to an authenticator app, and cap your API keys.
Why does an authenticator app beat SMS codes?
Text messages can be intercepted or redirected, while an authenticator app generates codes on your own device.
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