WORLDTECHCanada takes some government websites offline over PHP flaws
AI illustrationSome Canadian government websites have been taken temporarily offline as a precaution after two vulnerabilities were found in PHP, a programming language used by websites around the world, according to BetaKit. Minister Evan Solomon said the step was taken to protect government systems and Canadians' information.
Vulnerabilities reported in PHP
PHP developers said on Tuesday that they had found two critical security vulnerabilities in the language and encouraged site managers either to take their websites down or to update them as soon as a fix was available.
The flaws affect websites across the globe, which is why the issue has been described as a global cybersecurity concern.
Ottawa acts on cyber centre guidance
Solomon, the minister for AI and digital innovation, said on Wednesday afternoon that some Canadian government websites had been taken temporarily offline. He described the move as a precaution and said it follows guidance from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.
Solomon said other governments and organisations were also taking protective measures, calling the matter a global issue. He made the remarks in a post on X.
Open questions
- How many Canadian government websites have been taken offline?
- When will the offline sites be restored?