Major websites around the world have been taken offline after artificial intelligence uncovered critical security vulnerabilities in PHP, a programming language used by millions of websites.
Councils in Edinburgh, Oxford and Bristol were among organisations forced to shut down websites, alongside European governments, universities and businesses, including the Port of Rotterdam.
Cybersecurity firm Wiz discovered the flaws using AI tools developed by OpenAI and Google, warning they ranked among the most serious software vulnerabilities ever identified.
The weaknesses, which have existed for a decade, could allow hackers to access private databases, steal sensitive information and execute malicious code without logging in.
The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has urged organisations to install emergency updates immediately or take affected systems offline until they can be secured.
Cloudflare has already reported evidence of hackers exploiting the vulnerabilities, raising concerns about the potential scale of cyberattacks.
FSTE100
The UK's flagship share index, the FTSE 100, was xx at xx shortly after opening this morning.
Brent crude oil futures were up 2%, sitting at $111.00 a barrel this morning.
Companies reporting
- Auction Technology Group - Full Year Trading Statement
- Barclays - Q3 Results
- Inchcape - Q3 Trading Statement
- InterContinental Hotels Group - Q3 Trading Statement
- J Sainsbury - Half Year Results
- LSEG - Q3 Trading Statement
- Pearson - Q3 Trading Statement
- Rathbones - Q3 Trading Statement
- RELX - Q3 Trading Statement
- Renishaw - Q1 Trading Statement
- Rentokil Initial - Q3 Trading Statement