AI Is Making Hacking Easier. Here’s How to Protect Yourself

AI is making hacking easier than ever, and newly discovered security vulnerabilities could put millions of websites at risk. What does this mean for your online security, and how can you protect yourself?

Tech expert Shelly Palmer joins Fox 5 New York to explain how artificial intelligence helped researchers exploit two critical vulnerabilities in PHP, the programming language used by roughly 70% of websites with an identifiable server-side language. The discovery reveals a growing cybersecurity challenge: AI is giving hackers powerful new capabilities while also helping security experts identify and defend against threats.

Shelly explains why AI-powered cyberattacks are changing the cybersecurity landscape, how sophisticated hacking techniques are becoming more accessible, and why everyday internet users need to take digital security seriously.

He also shares practical cybersecurity tips, including enabling two-factor authentication (2FA), using strong passwords, safely storing account recovery codes, and using AI tools to identify potential security weaknesses.

As AI continues to evolve, the cybersecurity arms race is accelerating. But as Shelly reminds us, there’s no reason to panic. The key is to be prepared.

Shelly Palmer is Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, CEO of The Palmer Group, and a leading expert on artificial intelligence and emerging technology.

Originally aired October 27, 2026, on Fox 5 New York.

Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it. This work was created with the assistance of various generative AI models.