Learn 5 ways to protect yourself from AI-powered hacking as Cybersecurity threats grow more sophisticated and artificial intelligence (AI) changes how security weaknesses are discovered and exploited.
A vulnerability in widely used software can put millions of websites and online services at risk. It can potentially affect businesses, government agencies, and ordinary internet users.
Experts express security concerns regarding PHP, a programming language used by a large proportion of websites, and how quickly its vulnerabilities can become a global problem.
When attackers discover a weakness before website owners have time to fix it, they may attempt to steal sensitive information, modify website content, or gain control of vulnerable systems.
Although individuals cannot fix security problems on someone else’s server, they can take practical steps to protect their accounts, devices, and personal information.
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1. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication on Your Accounts
A strong password is an important part of online security, but it is not always enough. If someone steals your password through a phishing attack, a data breach, or another method, they may be able to access your account.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds another layer of protection by requiring an additional form of verification when you sign in.
Depending on the service, this may involve an authentication app, a physical security key, or another verification method. Even if an attacker obtains your password, the additional requirement can make unauthorized access more difficult.
How to enable multi-factor authentication
Follow these steps to secure your most important accounts:
- Open the security settings of your email account, social media accounts, and other important services.
- Look for an option called two-factor authentication, multi-factor authentication, or two-step verification.
- Enable the feature and follow the instructions.
- Whenever possible, use an authenticator app or a passkey instead of relying exclusively on SMS verification.
- Store your recovery codes somewhere safe in case you lose access to your verification device.
Start with your primary email account. If someone gains control of your email, they may be able to reset the passwords for many of your other accounts.
Why it matters: Multi-factor authentication can help prevent attackers from accessing your accounts with a stolen password alone. However, it does not eliminate every risk, particularly attacks involving phishing or compromised devices.
2. Keep Your Devices and Software Updated
Software updates do more than introduce new features or improve performance. They frequently fix security vulnerabilities that attackers could otherwise exploit.
When developers discover a weakness, they may release a security patch to prevent malicious users from taking advantage of it. Delaying that update can leave your device or website exposed to a problem that already has a solution.
This applies to more than your computer or smartphone. Your web browser, router, operating system, applications, and other internet-connected devices may also require updates.
What should you update?
Make a habit of checking the following:
- Operating system: Install security updates for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, or whichever operating system you use.
- Web browsers: Keep Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or your preferred browser updated.
- Applications: Update applications installed on your phone and computer, particularly those that access sensitive information.
- Home router: Check the manufacturer’s instructions for firmware updates and security recommendations.
- Internet-connected devices: Update smart cameras, televisions, and other connected equipment when security patches are available.
Enable automatic updates wherever practical. This reduces the chance of forgetting an important security fix.
If a device no longer receives security updates, consider replacing it or discontinuing its use for sensitive activities when appropriate.
What if you own a WordPress website?
Website owners need to pay particular attention to updates because vulnerabilities in server-side software can affect visitors, administrators, and stored data.
If you manage a WordPress website, keep WordPress core, themes, and plugins updated. Also check that your hosting provider maintains the underlying server software, including PHP.
Importantly, updating WordPress does not automatically update every component of the server environment. Your hosting provider or technical administrator may need to handle certain server-level updates.
Why it matters: Promptly installing legitimate security updates is one of the most effective ways to reduce exposure to known vulnerabilities.
3. Check Your Apps and Connected Devices for Security Risks
Your cybersecurity is only as strong as the devices and applications you continue to use.
Many people focus on their computers and phones while overlooking other devices connected to their home networks. Smart cameras, routers, televisions, and other internet-connected equipment can also contain software vulnerabilities.
Some devices receive regular security updates, while others may receive limited support or stop receiving updates altogether.
How to check your connected devices
Start by making a list of the devices connected to your home network. Then:
- Identify each device’s manufacturer and model.
- Visit the manufacturer’s official website to check for available firmware updates.
- Review whether the device still receives security support.
- Change default passwords, especially on routers and smart devices.
- Disable remote access and unnecessary features if you do not need them.
- Replace unsupported devices when they pose a meaningful security risk and cannot be adequately protected.
You should also review the applications installed on your phone and computer. Remove apps you no longer use, particularly those from unknown developers or sources you do not trust.
Only install applications from reputable sources, and be cautious when granting permissions. A flashlight application, for example, generally should not need access to your contacts or microphone.
Why website security matters to ordinary users
A security flaw in a website’s server is different from a vulnerability in your personal device. Even if your own computer is fully updated, a vulnerable website may still expose information stored on its servers.
You cannot directly repair that weakness, but you can reduce unnecessary exposure by avoiding suspicious websites, limiting the information you share, and using unique passwords for different services.
Why it matters: Reviewing your connected devices and applications helps you identify outdated software, unnecessary access, and other security weaknesses that might otherwise go unnoticed.
4. Watch Out for Urgent Security Alerts and Phishing Scams
When a major cybersecurity incident makes headlines, scammers may use the confusion to trick people into revealing passwords, sharing verification codes, or downloading malicious software.
You might receive an email or text message claiming that your account has been compromised. The message may instruct you to click a link immediately to protect your account or avoid losing access.
Some fraudulent messages imitate the branding, language, and appearance of legitimate companies. AI tools can also help scammers generate convincing messages with fewer spelling and grammar mistakes than traditional phishing attempts.
That makes it increasingly important to verify unexpected security alerts rather than trusting them automatically.
How to recognize a suspicious security message
Be cautious if a message:
- Pressures you to act immediately or threatens to suspend your account.
- Contains an unexpected link to a login page.
- Requests your password, payment details, or authentication code.
- Asks you to download an unfamiliar attachment or install software.
- Comes from a sender address or domain that does not match the organization it claims to represent.
These signs do not prove that a message is fraudulent, but they are reasons to verify it before taking action.
What should you do instead?
If you receive an unexpected security warning, do not click its links.
Instead, open the company’s official application or type its known website address directly into your browser. Check your account notifications or security settings to determine whether action is actually required.
If the company confirms that your account needs attention, follow the instructions provided through its official channels.
Never share a one-time authentication code with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. Legitimate support staff should not need you to disclose your password.
Why it matters: Even if a company has patched its software, attackers can still target users through phishing, stolen credentials, and other social engineering techniques.
5. Stop Reusing Passwords and Consider Passkeys
Using the same password across several websites creates a serious security risk.
Imagine that you use one password for your email, an online shopping account, and a social media profile. If one of those services suffers a data breach, attackers may try the exposed password on your other accounts.
This technique, known as credential stuffing, allows criminals to exploit password reuse to gain access to multiple services.
The solution is to use a different, strong password for every account.
Use a password manager
Remembering dozens of unique passwords can be difficult. A reputable password manager can generate and securely store strong passwords for your different accounts.
Instead of memorizing every password, you protect the password manager with a strong master password and, ideally, multi-factor authentication.
Choose a well-established password manager, protect your recovery information, and avoid storing sensitive passwords in unsecured documents or notes.
Consider using passkeys
Passkeys provide another way to sign in without relying on traditional passwords.
They use cryptographic credentials associated with a particular service. Depending on your device and setup, you may authenticate using your fingerprint, facial recognition, a device PIN, or another supported method.
Passkeys are designed to resist phishing because authentication is tied to the legitimate website or service. A fake website generally cannot use a passkey intended for the real service.
Not every website supports passkeys yet, but they are worth considering wherever available.
Your password security checklist
- Use a unique password for every important account.
- Use a password manager to generate and store strong passwords.
- Enable multi-factor authentication.
- Set up passkeys on services that support them.
- Change passwords promptly if a service reports a breach or you suspect an account has been compromised.
Why it matters: Unique passwords limit the damage a single breach can cause, while passkeys can reduce the risk of password theft through phishing.
Why These Five Steps Cannot Fix Every Cybersecurity Threat
Following these recommendations can significantly improve your personal security, but it is important to understand their limitations.
Some cyberattacks exploit vulnerabilities in the software running on a website’s server. These weaknesses may allow attackers to execute unauthorized commands, access sensitive information, or interfere with the website’s operation.
When that happens, the responsibility for fixing the underlying problem rests with the organization that operates the affected service.
For example, if a website relies on vulnerable server software, enabling multi-factor authentication on your personal email account will not repair that software. Similarly, updating your own computer cannot install a security patch on someone else’s server.
Organizations must take additional measures, including:
- Installing security patches promptly.
- Monitoring systems for suspicious activity.
- Investigating whether attackers accessed their systems before the vulnerability was fixed.
- Maintaining secure backups and recovery procedures.
- Restricting unnecessary access to sensitive systems and data.
- Using appropriate security monitoring and protective technologies.
Website owners should also maintain an incident response plan so they can act quickly when a serious vulnerability is discovered.
For WordPress website owners, this means coordinating updates across WordPress core, plugins, themes, hosting infrastructure, and server-side software. It also means contacting the hosting provider when a vulnerability affects components outside the website owner’s direct control.
Security is a shared responsibility. Individuals can protect their accounts and devices, but businesses and service providers must protect the infrastructure their customers rely on.
How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Cybersecurity
Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important tool in cybersecurity, both for defenders and for attackers.
Security researchers can use AI-assisted techniques to analyze software, identify suspicious patterns, and discover vulnerabilities that might otherwise take longer to find. When these weaknesses are reported responsibly and fixed promptly, AI can help organizations improve their security.
However, discovering a vulnerability is only part of the process. Developers must verify the problem, create and distribute a patch, and ensure that affected systems receive the update.
The period between discovery and effective patching can be particularly dangerous if attackers learn about the vulnerability and begin exploiting it.
Attackers can also use AI to support phishing campaigns, generate deceptive messages, and automate parts of their operations. This does not mean every cyberattack is AI-powered, but it does mean that individuals and organizations should not rely on recognizing poorly written scam messages as their main defense.
The most effective response combines technical safeguards, timely updates, careful verification of suspicious communications, and responsible security practices.
Concluding Remarks
Cybersecurity incidents involving widely used software demonstrate how a weakness in one component can affect organizations and internet users around the world.
You cannot control whether every website you visit has secured its servers properly. However, you can make it more difficult for attackers to compromise your accounts, devices, and personal information.
Start with five practical actions: enable multi-factor authentication, install software updates promptly, review your connected devices, verify unexpected security alerts, and stop reusing passwords.
If you manage a website, take server-side security seriously as well. Keep your software updated, coordinate with your hosting provider, and investigate potential compromises rather than assuming that installing a patch resolves every problem.
AI may help researchers discover vulnerabilities faster, but strong security still depends on finding weaknesses, fixing them, and ensuring that the fixes reach the systems that need them.
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