From the Left · Watch · October 23, 2026
Oct 22 · AI-found PHP flaw puts up to 70% of websites at risk as governments take sites offline to patch
NBC News: Hackers appear to be struggling to exploit PHP flaws after global cybersecurity crisis
Grade A (100/100). Article: a day after the patch, named researchers at nine security firms report no successful attacks, while warning the threat will last for weeks
Lehrer score 100/100 (no deductions; checked for spin against the transcript: published 6:07 PM ET Oct 22 (NBC page timestamp); paragraph 1: the 'few, if any, reports of widespread damage' line is attributed to 'experts and insiders', not asserted by the writer; paragraph 2: the counterweight is given in the same breath: 'That could still change, of course, and cybersecurity experts warn that the threat will remain for weeks'; paragraphs 9-10: the 'no successful attacks' finding is sourced by name to nine companies and to Palo Alto Networks' Sherrod DeGrippo, who adds 'only a matter of time'). Fixed scale: 90+ A, 80s B, 70s C, 60s D, under 60 F → A.
No spin found. published 6:07 PM ET Oct 22 (NBC page timestamp); paragraph 1: the 'few, if any, reports of widespread damage' line is attributed to 'experts and insiders', not asserted by the writer; paragraph 2: the counterweight is given in the same breath: 'That could still change, of course, and cybersecurity experts warn that the threat will remain for weeks'; paragraphs 9-10: the 'no successful attacks' finding is sourced by name to nine companies and to Palo Alto Networks' Sherrod DeGrippo, who adds 'only a matter of time'
Splits: Article: a day after the patch, named researchers at nine security firms report no successful attacks, while warning the threat will last for weeks
- Met. Rule: no spin (published 6:07 PM ET Oct 22 (NBC page timestamp); paragraph 1: the 'few, if any, reports of widespread damage' line is attributed to 'experts and insiders', not asserted by the writer)
- Met. Rule: no spin (paragraph 2: the counterweight is given in the same breath: 'That could still change, of course, and cybersecurity experts warn that the threat will remain for weeks')
- Met. Rule: no spin (paragraphs 9-10: the 'no successful attacks' finding is sourced by name to nine companies and to Palo Alto Networks' Sherrod DeGrippo, who adds 'only a matter of time')
Same story: Breaking Points, Fox News