Cybersecurity Classes at McFatter in the Age of AI
Cybersecurity developments reviewed October 22, 2026
If you are looking for cybersecurity classes, recent headlines offer a compelling reason to start learning. Understanding how attackers find weaknesses—and how defenders respond—can turn an interest in technology into a practical direction for your education.
At McFatter Technical College in Davie, our Applied Cybersecurity program uses practical security scenarios to help students develop protective skills. For learners in Broward County and across South Florida, it is a place to begin building that knowledge. 1
What the October 22 cybersecurity headlines mean for students
The following developments were announced, updated, or receiving attention by October 22, 2026. Some began earlier in the week. Together, they show the range of problems security teams must investigate, explain, and address.
PHP2Shell and the rush to protect websites
PHP2Shell refers to two critical PHP vulnerabilities, CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619. PHP is software used to run many websites. The flaws can allow an attacker to execute code on affected servers without logging in. PHP released security fixes on October 21. 2
Wiz reported that AI helped researchers uncover longstanding weaknesses and develop working demonstrations of their impact. By October 22, Reuters reported millions of attempted exploits and precautionary service shutdowns. Those attempts should not be confused with millions of confirmed breaches. 3 4
Amazon also reported an attempted exploit against its monitoring infrastructure dating to October 17, before public disclosure. For future defenders, the lesson is practical: understanding software dependencies, recognizing suspicious activity, and responding promptly can matter before an incident becomes a headline. 5
Fortinet links October 22 updates to AI assisted testing
Fortinet announced security updates for FortiOS, FortiManager, and FortiAnalyzer scheduled for October 22, including fixes for vulnerabilities found through AI-assisted testing. The company urged customers to prioritize exposed devices and warned that AI can help attackers turn published fixes into working exploits more quickly. 6
This is a useful example of AI's role on both sides of security. It can help researchers find and repair weaknesses, while also reducing the time defenders have to act.
AI agents need security oversight too
On October 22, METR and Redwood Research published findings from a July–August assessment of OpenAI's internal agent-monitoring systems. Researchers identified ways agents could potentially bypass safeguards or avoid monitoring. OpenAI said the findings affecting its production safeguards had been patched; the evaluators said they had not verified those claims. 7
For students, this connects AI security to familiar questions: Who has permission to do what? Are actions recorded? Can a security team detect and investigate unexpected behavior?
Other developments show the breadth of security work
- Enterprise software: Oracle's October 20 Critical Patch Update contained 1,295 new security patches. The scale illustrates the work involved in identifying affected systems and prioritizing updates. 8
- Security infrastructure: Cisco updated its Snort 3 hardening advisory on October 22. It described internally discovered vulnerabilities and said they were not known to be actively exploited. 9
- Ransomware: The October 20 joint SafePay advisory, covered in October 22 reporting, described at least 600 victims since August 2024. It emphasized risks involving credentials, exposed systems, and access controls. 10
- Health care systems: Quest Diagnostics confirmed unauthorized access to its Quanum LSM system and paused access while investigating. Its notice said core business operations remained running. 11
- Website certificates: In its October 22 update, GoDaddy reported that none of the certificates affected by a certificate-policy incident remained valid after revocation and expiration. This was a separate issue involving the certificates used to establish trust online. 12
These incidents have different causes. The sources establish AI involvement in the PHP2Shell research and Fortinet testing; they do not establish that AI caused every incident above.
Why cybersecurity classes matter as AI capabilities grow
An AI tool can surface a possible weakness, but someone still needs to determine which systems are affected, evaluate the evidence, and choose an appropriate response. Amazon's PHP2Shell analysis warns that AI-assisted work can shorten the time between disclosure and exploitation. 5
For someone considering cybersecurity training, that makes the fundamentals a useful starting point. Learning how networks operate, how access is controlled, and how incidents are investigated gives you a framework for understanding new threats as they emerge.
If you enjoy solving problems, asking why something happened, or helping others use technology safely, explore what structured training involves. Bring your questions to a program orientation and discuss the skills you want to develop.
Build practical skills at McFatter Technical College
McFatter's Applied Cybersecurity program covers computer and network security, intrusion detection and prevention, incident response, system hardening, access control, cryptography, and web security. The program also lists preparation for CompTIA Security+ and CySA+ certifications. 1
These subjects connect directly to the questions raised by the news: how to reduce exposure, recognize an intrusion, protect sensitive information, and recover when something goes wrong. Learning the underlying principles helps you make sense of both established threats and emerging AI-related risks.
As you compare cybersecurity classes near Fort Lauderdale, consider the opportunity to study in Davie and speak with McFatter's program counselor about your goals. Whether you are exploring the field or considering a career change, that conversation can help you plan your next step.
Plan your enrollment in cybersecurity classes
McFatter currently lists a 750-hour program, with a seven-month daytime option and a ten-month evening option. The next class is listed for January 5, 2027. 1
Published Florida-resident tuition is $2,100, with an estimated program total of $3,171. Prices may change, and financial assistance is available to those who qualify. 1
Contact Admissions to confirm the upcoming schedule, available seats, current costs, and any assessment or orientation requirements. Ask how the program fits your existing computer knowledge and the time you can commit to learning.
Enroll in Applied Cybersecurity at McFatter
Turn your interest in cybersecurity into a plan for training. Contact McFatter to schedule a program orientation, review your enrollment requirements, and get ready for the next class.
Visit McFatter's Applied Cybersecurity program page, call 754-321-5700, or request information online and indicate your interest in Applied Cybersecurity.