Last Tuesday, a security flaw called PHP2Shell went public before anyone was ready, and suddenly a huge portion of the internet scrambled to lock its doors. My website was caught in the blast radius. By the time the dust settled, I was rethinking. I was thinking about human connection, and how much of our lives we’ve quietly moved into places that can be broken into overnight.
What PHP2Shell Actually Was
In plain English, PHP is one of the programming languages that runs beneath an enormous number of websites, including many built on WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla. Security researchers reportedly discovered two serious flaws in it, with the help of artificial intelligence, that could let a stranger take remote control of a website’s server without ever logging in. The plan was to release a fix quietly and then announce the details. Instead, the details leaked online early, the fix was rushed out a day ahead of schedule, and some organizations took their websites offline entirely while they patched. Security teams reported that attackers were already testing the weakness, in at least one case days before the public even knew it existed.
That’s the part that stuck with me. A weakness that had existed for years, invisible to almost everyone, suddenly became everyone’s problem in a matter of hours.
Yes, It Touched My Website
I’ll be honest with you, because that’s how I’ve built my practice for over 34 years. PHP2Shell did affect lewismabee.com (my website was down for a few hours). The good news is that it was patched before any hackers could do damage, and nothing was compromised. And before anyone asks, no, the PHP developers did not send me a psychic memo in advance. Even The People’s Psychic gets the same breaking news alert as everyone else.
What I felt in that moment wasn’t panic. It was a strange clarity. We guard our passwords like treasure, update our apps on command, and lose sleep over data breaches, yet we rarely ask what we’re protecting it all for.
We lock our devices down like fortresses, then wonder why we feel so alone inside them.
The Vulnerability Nobody Is Patching
Here’s the flaw I see far more often than a software bug. It’s the quiet erosion of real connection. Many people scroll past each other at the dinner table, answer a heartfelt moment with an emoji, and spend more time maintaining online profiles than maintaining friendships. None of it feels dangerous in the moment, and that may be exactly why it can do so much damage over time. Like PHP2Shell, it can sit there unnoticed for years until something cracks it wide open.
I want to be clear about something, though, because it matters to my work. A screen itself isn’t the problem. I read for clients by Zoom, phone, and in person, and energy has no boundaries. I have the ability to connect with you no matter where you are in the world, and a screen doesn’t diminish that. The device doesn’t weaken connection. It’s divided attention. You can sit across a table from someone you love and be completely absent, or you can be on a call across an ocean and be fully, wholeheartedly present. Presence is the difference.
Setting the Device Down
Last week, while websites everywhere were scrambling to protect themselves, I found myself wanting to do the opposite of scrolling. I wanted to call someone instead of texting them. I wanted a conversation that didn’t come with a notification sound in the middle of it.
If any of this lands with you, start small. Put your phone in another room during dinner and notice how the conversation changes. Call the friend you keep meaning to text. Take a walk with someone and leave the headphones at home. Give the first part of your morning to yourself, or to the people in your house, before the outside world gets its turn. In my experience, people who make even one of these shifts often notice they feel lighter, calmer, and more like themselves within a surprisingly short time.
Your devices will survive a few hours without you. Some of your relationships might not survive years without your full attention.
Connection Is the Heart of My Work
After 34+ years and more than 24,000 readings for clients in more than 33 countries, I can tell you that connection is at the center of everything I do. It’s there when someone hears from a loved one in spirit, and it’s there when someone finally feels understood after carrying something alone for far too long. A reading asks you to be fully present, whether you’re sitting with me in Woodstock or joining from your own living room halfway around the world. You don’t have to tell me what’s going on. I’ll tell you what I’m picking up.
If last week left you feeling a little more aware of how disconnected life has become, maybe it’s time for a conversation that has nothing to do with a screen and everything to do with you. You can book a reading at lewismabee.com/book-appointment or email me at info@lewismabee.com.
When was the last time you spent a full evening with someone without either of you reaching for a phone? Tell me in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PHP2Shell?
PHP2Shell is the nickname for two serious security flaws discovered in PHP, a programming language that powers a large share of websites. The flaws could allow an outside attacker to run their own commands on a website’s server without logging in. Details leaked online in October 2026, and a fix was released ahead of schedule.
Was any information compromised on lewismabee.com?
No. My website was affected by PHP2Shell, but the potential issue was fixed before hackers could do any damage, and nothing was compromised.
Can too much screen time affect human connection?
It may. Many people find that constant device use pulls their attention away from the people in front of them. The issue usually isn’t technology itself but how often it competes with genuine presence and conversation.
What are simple ways to reconnect with people?
Some people start with a phone-free meal, a real phone call instead of a text, or a walk with a friend without headphones. Small, consistent choices could make a meaningful difference in how connected you feel.
Does a Zoom psychic reading feel as connected as an in-person reading?
Yes. Energy has no boundaries, and a screen doesn’t diminish the connection. The choice between Zoom, phone, or in-person comes down to personal preference and whether you can be in Woodstock.
