PHP is a programming language which most modern web applications run on. PHP is used by 79% of all websites with known server-side programming languages, so yours probably uses it too. An example of a PHP application would be WordPress, which powers over 30% of worlds websites.
Branch 5.6 is the last PHP Version 5 release, and in order to give websites more time to move to PHP 7, its active support was extended by four months, and its security fix period by an entire year. When that period runs out, no further releases will be issued to patch security vulnerabilities.
At PHP.net, the PHP Group, which produces the language’s reference implementation, warns users that:
“using older versions may expose you to security vulnerabilities and bugs that have been fixed in more recent versions of PHP.”
While many website owners and operators have upgraded to PHP 7.2, nearly 79% are currently using a branch from PHP version 5, so if you have yet to move to PHP 7, you are hardly alone. Millions of websites are going to have to migrate to the newer version in the next few months, as security support runs out for PHP 7.0 on December 3, and for PHP 5.6 on December 31, 2018.
We are encouraging all customers who are still using PHP 5.6 to upgrade as soon as possible. For information about determining which version of PHP your website is using and how to upgrade, please see the following Knowledgebase article:
https://www.alpineweb.com/backroom/knowledgebase/125/Upgrade-to-PHP7.html
Should you have questions or need additional assistance, please submit a Help Ticket here:
