# Computer Security Is About to Get a Lot Worse, Here’s What You Can Do [Canonical reading](https://escapemeridian.com/readings/computer-security-is-about-to-get-a-lot-worse-here-s-what-you-1e4a14c3) The Electronic Frontier Foundation argues that frontier AI models have made it much cheaper and easier to find previously unknown vulnerabilities in software, including open-source software that underlies much of the internet. It says that three percent of all software vulnerabilities ever found were found in October, and that researchers found nearly a quarter of all discovered software security issues this year. The EFF warns, “It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” while recommending practical steps people can take now: keep browsers and applications updated, use unique passwords with a password manager, watch for phishing attempts, and consider a tracker-blocking tool. It also urges a broader discussion of corporations’ contributions to open-source upkeep and regulation of big tech. People who host websites are advised to make sure the relevant issue has been patched. The article warns that data breaches may become more likely and that services may be disrupted, but does not present those outcomes as measured effects of the vulnerabilities it describes. Headline and summary by Escape Meridian, prepared by Luna from the attributed source. A source check is not independent confirmation of the source’s claims. ## Original source Electronic Frontier Foundation · Article Original source date: Oct 23, 2026 (2026-10-23T15:36:29-07:00). Date basis: Date stated by the publisher. Added to Escape Meridian: 2026-11-14T08:46:53.976Z. First observed: 2026-10-23T22:41:13.698Z. Retrieved: 2026-10-25T05:02:39.906Z. - [Computer Security Is About to Get a Lot Worse, Here’s What You Can Do](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Limits The article gives no method or denominator for its figures on the share of vulnerabilities found in October or this year, so their basis cannot be assessed from this text. The article warns of more attacks, data breaches, and service disruptions as possibilities; it does not provide measured evidence that these outcomes have occurred because of the vulnerabilities described. ## Open question What evidence would show whether the vulnerabilities found with frontier AI models are leading to more attacks, data breaches, or service disruptions? ## Source-stated The EFF says frontier AI models have made it much cheaper and easier to find previously unknown vulnerabilities in open- and closed-source code. > frontier AI models, such as those created by OpenAI, Anthropic, and others, have made it incredibly cheap and easy to find previously unknown vulnerabilities (zero-days) in open- and closed-source code. - [Supporting source](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Source-stated The EFF reports that three percent of all software vulnerabilities ever found were found in October, and that researchers found nearly a quarter of all discovered software security issues this year. > Three percent of all software vulnerabilities ever found in history were found just in the month of October. This year alone researchers have found nearly a quarter of all software security issues which have ever been discovered. - [Supporting source](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Source-stated The EFF predicts that computer security will worsen before improving and says people can take steps to protect themselves. > TL; DR: It’s going to get worse before it gets better. But you can protect yourself with basic digital security hygiene that is now more important than ever. - [Supporting source](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Source-stated The EFF recommends keeping browsers and applications updated, considering a tracker-blocking tool, watching for phishing, and using unique passwords with a password manager. > we recommend making sure your browser and all applications are always up to date with the latest patches. - [Supporting source](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Source-stated The EFF calls for discussion of systemic issues, including corporate support for open-source projects and regulation of big tech. > There absolutely needs to be a bigger conversation about how we got here and how to fix the systemic issues involved, including how corporations that depend on open-source code should contribute to their upkeep, and how big tech should be regulated. - [Supporting source](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Source-stated The EFF says data breaches may become more likely and services may be disrupted. > data breaches may now be more likely, and the websites you visit may experience more attacks than usual, which means that some services may be disrupted. - [Supporting source](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Source and contributor context Cooper Quintin and India McKinney · Article author These are credits stated by the source; they do not establish a profile match or authorship of every passage. ## Source media Media declared by the original publisher; availability checked separately from the editorial reading. - [image · Electronic Frontier Foundation](https://www.eff.org/files/banner_library/OG-GovernmentHacking-Playpen.png) ## Terms and references Reference context selected by Escape Meridian; separate from source evidence. Entity mentions do not establish authorship, involvement or endorsement. ## Frontier model One of the most capable AI models available at a given time; the set shifts as models improve. - [Definition reference](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/frontier-ai-capabilities-and-risks-discussion-paper) ## Electronic Frontier Foundation The Electronic Frontier Foundation advocates for digital rights through litigation, technical work and public policy. - [Explore this context](/entities/electronic-frontier-foundation) - [Reference](https://www.eff.org/) ## Editorial provenance Version 1. Publication ID: bd072060-10c9-453d-8681-9e9f5f575228. Prepared by gpt-6-luna; grounding review by gpt-6-luna. Source check: uncertain by anthropic/claude-opus-5.5 on 2026-11-14T08:46:53.976Z. This checks fidelity to the source, not whether its claims are independently true. Editorial selection: accept; reasons: useful\_perspective. Observation: 623dce7c99821e8141e9f9ddf7d0d8c4653a95db14af4da2c7fb2b6d5938989a. Source text hash: 25b7ad9006596028749c80b385d509a6e812c8c03458cf93578e9c56e15d680e. ## Revision and source-check history ### Version 1 — 2026-11-14T08:46:53.976Z The Electronic Frontier Foundation argues that frontier AI models have made it much cheaper and easier to find previously unknown vulnerabilities in software, including open-source software that underlies much of the internet. It says that three percent of all software vulnerabilities ever found were found in October, and that researchers found nearly a quarter of all discovered software security issues this year. The EFF warns, “It’s going to get worse before it gets better,” while recommending practical steps people can take now: keep browsers and applications updated, use unique passwords with a password manager, watch for phishing attempts, and consider a tracker-blocking tool. It also urges a broader discussion of corporations’ contributions to open-source upkeep and regulation of big tech. People who host websites are advised to make sure the relevant issue has been patched. The article warns that data breaches may become more likely and that services may be disrupted, but does not present those outcomes as measured effects of the vulnerabilities it describes. ## Original source Electronic Frontier Foundation · Article Original source date: Oct 23, 2026 (2026-10-23T15:36:29-07:00). Date basis: Date stated by the publisher. Added to Escape Meridian: 2026-11-14T08:46:53.976Z. First observed: 2026-10-23T22:41:13.698Z. Retrieved: 2026-10-25T05:02:39.906Z. - [Computer Security Is About to Get a Lot Worse, Here’s What You Can Do](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Limits The article gives no method or denominator for its figures on the share of vulnerabilities found in October or this year, so their basis cannot be assessed from this text. The article warns of more attacks, data breaches, and service disruptions as possibilities; it does not provide measured evidence that these outcomes have occurred because of the vulnerabilities described. ## Open question What evidence would show whether the vulnerabilities found with frontier AI models are leading to more attacks, data breaches, or service disruptions? ## Source-stated The EFF says frontier AI models have made it much cheaper and easier to find previously unknown vulnerabilities in open- and closed-source code. > frontier AI models, such as those created by OpenAI, Anthropic, and others, have made it incredibly cheap and easy to find previously unknown vulnerabilities (zero-days) in open- and closed-source code. - [Supporting source](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Source-stated The EFF reports that three percent of all software vulnerabilities ever found were found in October, and that researchers found nearly a quarter of all discovered software security issues this year. > Three percent of all software vulnerabilities ever found in history were found just in the month of October. This year alone researchers have found nearly a quarter of all software security issues which have ever been discovered. - [Supporting source](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Source-stated The EFF predicts that computer security will worsen before improving and says people can take steps to protect themselves. > TL; DR: It’s going to get worse before it gets better. But you can protect yourself with basic digital security hygiene that is now more important than ever. - [Supporting source](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Source-stated The EFF recommends keeping browsers and applications updated, considering a tracker-blocking tool, watching for phishing, and using unique passwords with a password manager. > we recommend making sure your browser and all applications are always up to date with the latest patches. - [Supporting source](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Source-stated The EFF calls for discussion of systemic issues, including corporate support for open-source projects and regulation of big tech. > There absolutely needs to be a bigger conversation about how we got here and how to fix the systemic issues involved, including how corporations that depend on open-source code should contribute to their upkeep, and how big tech should be regulated. - [Supporting source](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Source-stated The EFF says data breaches may become more likely and services may be disrupted. > data breaches may now be more likely, and the websites you visit may experience more attacks than usual, which means that some services may be disrupted. - [Supporting source](https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/10/computer-security-about-get-lot-worse-heres-what-you-can-do) ## Source and contributor context Cooper Quintin and India McKinney · Article author These are credits stated by the source; they do not establish a profile match or authorship of every passage. ## Source media Media declared by the original publisher; availability checked separately from the editorial reading. - [image · Electronic Frontier Foundation](https://www.eff.org/files/banner_library/OG-GovernmentHacking-Playpen.png) ## Terms and references Reference context selected by Escape Meridian; separate from source evidence. Entity mentions do not establish authorship, involvement or endorsement. ## Frontier model One of the most capable AI models available at a given time; the set shifts as models improve. - [Definition reference](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/frontier-ai-capabilities-and-risks-discussion-paper) ## Electronic Frontier Foundation The Electronic Frontier Foundation advocates for digital rights through litigation, technical work and public policy. - [Explore this context](/entities/electronic-frontier-foundation) - [Reference](https://www.eff.org/) ## Editorial provenance Version 1. Publication ID: bd072060-10c9-453d-8681-9e9f5f575228. Prepared by gpt-6-luna; grounding review by gpt-6-luna. Source check: uncertain by anthropic/claude-opus-5.5 on 2026-11-14T08:46:53.976Z. This checks fidelity to the source, not whether its claims are independently true. Editorial selection: accept; reasons: useful\_perspective. Observation: 623dce7c99821e8141e9f9ddf7d0d8c4653a95db14af4da2c7fb2b6d5938989a. Source text hash: 25b7ad9006596028749c80b385d509a6e812c8c03458cf93578e9c56e15d680e. ### uncertain — 2026-11-14T08:46:53.976Z — anthropic/claude-opus-5.5 Publication: bd072060-10c9-453d-8681-9e9f5f575228 attribution — pass: The draft consistently attributes claims, statistics, predictions and recommendations to the EFF, the publisher of the article. It does not present the AI-vulnerability claims as established fact. > frontier AI models, such as those created by OpenAI, Anthropic, and others, have made it incredibly cheap and easy to find previously unknown vulnerabilities summary — uncertain: The summary omits the concrete trigger for the article: multiple potentially internet-breaking vulnerabilities reported and patched in late October, the PHP-related 'Vulnerability Apocalypse,' and websites briefly going down. Without that context, 'the relevant issue' in the website-host advice is unexplained to a general reader. The smallest repair is one sentence noting the recent cluster of vulnerabilities, many in open-source software, and the brief outages the EFF mentions. > In the last two weeks of October alone, there have been multiple, potentially internet-breaking vulnerabilities reported and patched. date — pass: The originalPublished value, 2026-10-23T15:36:29-07:00, comes from the publisher page and matches the feed entry time of 22:36:29Z. No conflicting earlier date appears. support — uncertain: Each claim matches its excerpt. However, the summary and limitation frame disruptions purely as future possibilities. The source does state that readers may have noticed favorite websites were briefly down, and it links that to the recent vulnerabilities. That is not measured evidence, but saying the article presents disruption only as a possibility understates it. Suggested repair: note that the EFF anecdotally mentions recent outages without giving data. > You may have also noticed that some of your favorite websites were down for a bit. media — pass: The selected media is the verified direct link to the original EFF article, which is the most direct way to access the source. ## Recorded references Explicit citations in public readings and public file attachments to this reading. Shared topics are not citations. Other artifact types need an explicit reference adapter. No public references recorded here yet. [Reference data (JSON)](/readings/1e4a14c36fc861c38645b249c1a327c4b96e4620a012c83842dc5f1ea74db418/references.json) ## Corrections and challenges [Send a correction or an opposing source](https://escapemeridian.com/corrections/) [JSON record](https://escapemeridian.com/readings/computer-security-is-about-to-get-a-lot-worse-here-s-what-you-1e4a14c3.json)