Government and company websites across the world went offline this week after the disclosure of critical vulnerabilities in a widely used programming language prompted millions of hacking attempts. Japan has said it will set up a team to simulate cyberattacks using AI to identify weaknesses in technology systems as organizations scramble to curtail risks from flaws in the PHP programming language that underpins much of the internet. Government and company websites across the world went offline this week after the disclosure of critical vulnerabilities in the widely used programming language prompted millions of hacking attempts, forcing website operators to rush to protect or temporarily shut down their systems. Highlighting the extent of the disruption, Japan's third-largest mobile carrier, SoftBank, said on Friday it was suspending its emergency alert system for mobile users. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

Trending Now Safety Net Say More Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Creator Playbook Mashable Selects Getting Technical with Mashable Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Versus In My Bag Mashable @Home All Series The cost of living may be rising, but you can still have a great budget Halloween costume. Amanda Yeo is an Assistant Editor at Mashable, covering entertainment, culture, tech, science, and social good. Based in Australia, she writes about everything from video games and K-pop to movies and gadgets. The cost of living is punting us all in the unmentionables right now. Spending your hard-earned cash on an expensive Halloween costume can feel unwise, especially since you'll only wear it for one night.

Trump says NFL'could've probably postponed' Paris game as France protests stretch police thin MSG uses Knicks championship rings as bait in phishing test, calls the lure'an unfortunate mistake' Fans are sick and tired of the NFL's obsession with flags, anthem fatigue is real & UGA football is too smart! Team USA's Olympic hockey heroes reunite as Jack Hughes' Devils land goalie Connor Hellebuyck in blockbuster France's top soccer team obeys police order to move Sunday match; Saints, Steelers owners meet with Macron AOC says she supports men in women's sports because she's a girl's girl Did Texas use artificial intelligence to call fourth-down play against Florida? LeBron James doubles down with sneaky golf hip turns during national anthem after Trump's'total disgrace' dig If Ilhan Omar's father entered US under'false pretenses,' it could trigger scrutiny: Attorney'Fan Mail Friday': First dates with'The Five' Michigan US Senate race is'still competitive,' Democratic congresswoman says Gina Hinojosa is'further to the radical left' than Talarico, Gov Greg Abbott says DOJ official says department is following a'web of information' on Ilhan Omar Enes Kanter Freedom says he was treated like a'criminal' at WNBA game OutKick NASCAR legend Tony Stewart's return to the Truck Series ends early with big crash at Talladega The NASCAR Hall of Famer had gained 11 positions before Stewart Friesen's loss of control triggered the crash NASCAR star reacts to Stephen A Smith saying drivers aren't athletes Ross Chastain questions if Stephen A. Smith could even recognize a NASCAR driver in a recent interview with OutKick. For the second race this season, NASCAR great Tony Stewart hopped into a Craftsman Truck Series truck, but fans unfortunately didn't get much time to see Smoke doing his thing at Talladega Superspeedway. Back in February, Stewart made his return to NASCAR competition when he drove the No. 25 Ram 1500 for Kaulig Racing.

UK to invest £100m in'world first' AI Biosecurity Lab The UK says it will establish a national AI Biosecurity Lab (AIBL) to help strengthen its defences against emerging biological threats. As part of Wednesday's Budget, the government will commit £100m to establishing the new, world first institute with the support of leading AI firms. The chancellor will also pledge millions of pounds in spending across a range of initiatives aimed at shoring up the UK's ability to respond to evolving cyber, biological and AI-enabled threats. AI will transform daily life: every firm, community, hospital, school, and every aspect of our economy can benefit, John Healey said. I understand and share the concerns of working people, so I am setting out a distinctively British approach to AI.

NASCAR legend Tony Stewart's return to the Truck Series ends early with big crash at Talladega Trump says NFL'could've probably postponed' Paris game as France protests stretch police thin MSG uses Knicks championship rings as bait in phishing test, calls the lure'an unfortunate mistake' Fans are sick and tired of the NFL's obsession with flags, anthem fatigue is real & UGA football is too smart! Team USA's Olympic hockey heroes reunite as Jack Hughes' Devils land goalie Connor Hellebuyck in blockbuster France's top soccer team obeys police order to move Sunday match; Saints, Steelers owners meet with Macron AOC says she supports men in women's sports because she's a girl's girl Did Texas use artificial intelligence to call fourth-down play against Florida? LeBron James doubles down with sneaky golf hip turns during national anthem after Trump's'total disgrace' dig If Ilhan Omar's father entered US under'false pretenses,' it could trigger scrutiny: Attorney'Fan Mail Friday': First dates with'The Five' Michigan US Senate race is'still competitive,' Democratic congresswoman says Gina Hinojosa is'further to the radical left' than Talarico, Gov Greg Abbott says DOJ official says department is following a'web of information' on Ilhan Omar Calf injury, overseas flight raise questions about Jalen Hurts' blood clots Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel joins'America's Newsroom' to break down Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts' diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli. Pro wrestling legend Ric Flair was reportedly rushed to a Florida hospital after falling outside a bar. According to TMZ, Flair was at a Tampa bar when he walked outside and fell, injuring his face and possibly suffering a concussion.

Trending Now Safety Net Say More Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Creator Playbook Mashable Selects Getting Technical with Mashable Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Versus In My Bag Mashable @Home All Series Airbnb is cracking down on checkout chores. We are not running hotels. We are sharing our properties. Olivia Tauber is the deputy editor of digital culture, covering creators, media, movies, beauty, and more. Based in New York, her work has appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Cut, Teen Vogue, Complex, and Interview Magazine.

MSG uses Knicks championship rings as bait in phishing test, calls the lure'an unfortunate mistake' Fans are sick and tired of the NFL's obsession with flags, anthem fatigue is real & UGA football is too smart! Team USA's Olympic hockey heroes reunite as Jack Hughes' Devils land goalie Connor Hellebuyck in blockbuster France's top soccer team obeys police order to move Sunday match; Saints, Steelers owners meet with Macron AOC says she supports men in women's sports because she's a girl's girl Did Texas use artificial intelligence to call fourth-down play against Florida? LeBron James doubles down with sneaky golf hip turns during national anthem after Trump's'total disgrace' dig'Fan Mail Friday': First dates with'The Five' Michigan US Senate race is'still competitive,' Democratic congresswoman says Gina Hinojosa is'further to the radical left' than Talarico, Gov Greg Abbott says DOJ official says department is following a'web of information' on Ilhan Omar Enes Kanter Freedom says he was treated like a'criminal' at WNBA game President Trump touts his administration's border security at midterm rally in Florida OutKick Sports Trump says NFL'could've probably postponed' Paris game as France protests stretch police thin President Donald Trump is skeptical about the National Football League continuing to hold its first-ever game in Paris amid protests. The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints are still set to kick off Sunday despite the civil unrest and a Paris Saint-Germain soccer game the same day being postponed. Paris police requested a postponement of the PSG game because police and security resources are stretched thin due to mass protests, ongoing civil unrest and France's first NFL game happening in the region, per multiple reports.

MSG uses Knicks championship rings as bait in phishing test, calls the lure'an unfortunate mistake' Fans are sick and tired of the NFL's obsession with flags, anthem fatigue is real & UGA football is too smart! Team USA's Olympic hockey heroes reunite as Jack Hughes' Devils land goalie Connor Hellebuyck in blockbuster France's top soccer team obeys police order to move Sunday match; Saints, Steelers owners meet with Macron AOC says she supports men in women's sports because she's a girl's girl Did Texas use artificial intelligence to call fourth-down play against Florida? LeBron James doubles down with sneaky golf hip turns during national anthem after Trump's'total disgrace' dig'Fan Mail Friday': First dates with'The Five' Michigan US Senate race is'still competitive,' Democratic congresswoman says Gina Hinojosa is'further to the radical left' than Talarico, Gov Greg Abbott says DOJ official says department is following a'web of information' on Ilhan Omar Enes Kanter Freedom says he was treated like a'criminal' at WNBA game President Trump touts his administration's border security at midterm rally in Florida Data shows Iran's shadow tanker fleet has run out of oil Colorado mother Tanna Donalson is just one parent who's family has been impacted by a controversy involving a trans athlete on the Dakota Ridge High School volleyball team. Two Colorado high school volleyball players were threatened with benching after discussing a transgender athlete in their program, according to a parent complaint alleging the girls were ultimately allowed to play on condition they stop discussing the issue. The school district that oversees the school, Jefferson County Schools, is currently under Title IX investigation by the U.S. Department of Education .

Fans are sick and tired of the NFL's obsession with flags, anthem fatigue is real & UGA football is too smart! Team USA's Olympic hockey heroes reunite as Jack Hughes' Devils land goalie Connor Hellebuyck in blockbuster France's top soccer team obeys police order to move Sunday match; Saints, Steelers owners meet with Macron AOC says she supports men in women's sports because she's a girl's girl Did Texas use artificial intelligence to call fourth-down play against Florida? LeBron James doubles down with sneaky golf hip turns during national anthem after Trump's'total disgrace' dig Drake Maye's end-zone interception proves costly as Patriots fall 30-24 to Bears in primetime Rhamondre Stevenson's miraculous 48-yard touchdown stuns Bears as clock expires in first half Todd Benzinger, who caught the final out of the Reds' 1990 World Series sweep, dead at 63 Gina Hinojosa is'further to the radical left' than Talarico, Gov Greg Abbott says DOJ official says department is following a'web of information' on Ilhan Omar Enes Kanter Freedom says he was treated like a'criminal' at WNBA game President Trump touts his administration's border security at midterm rally in Florida Data shows Iran's shadow tanker fleet has run out of oil Court documents reportedly list Rep. Ilhan Omar under different name Craig Carton has some questions for Malik Muhammed after a play caught his attention during the Chicago Bears Thursday Night Football showdown against the New England Patriots. Sports betting is a big part of the sports experience these days, and unfortunately, that will lead to questions about the game's integrity, as OutKick's Craig Carton pointed out on Friday's edition of The Craig Carton Show . The Chicago Bears took on the New England Patriots on Thursday, and there was a certain play late in the first half that caught Carton's attention.

Why is the UK at the forefront of AI-driven job cuts? AI-linked job losses in the UK are running at twice the rate of US and Germany. Barclays plans to axe 5,000 jobs by the end of 2026 as it turns to artificial intelligence (AI) to cut costs. The bank's chief executive has described AI as the "icing on the cake" of that effort. But unions accuse the bank of using AI as an excuse to reduce its workforce.