Race to update services' computer systems after cyber-security flaw found

Organisations and businesses are rushing to update their systems after critical vulnerabilities were found in PHP, a widely used programming language for web development. Websites were taken offline on Wednesday and Thursday as a precaution, including some UK government services: 32 were unavailable and four partially unavailable, Technology Minister Baroness Lloyd of Effra told the House of Lords. No successful attacks have been reported, although experts warn the impact could take months to become apparent. Olly Whitehouse, chief technology officer of the National Cyber Security Centre, called the incident unprecedented and said organisations were beginning to act on security advice.