- A CrowdStrike update caused a global IT outage affecting Windows systems.
- Major sectors, including airlines and financial institutions, experienced significant disruptions.
- Both CrowdStrike and Microsoft are working to resolve the issues and communicate with affected users.
- The incident highlights vulnerabilities in interconnected technology systems.
Banks, airports, TV stations, hotels, and countless other businesses are all facing widespread IT outages, leaving flights grounded and causing widespread disruption, after Windows machines have displayed errors worldwide.
In the early hours of Friday, companies in Australia running Microsoft’s Windows operating system started reporting devices showing Blue Screens of Death (BSODs). Shortly after, reports of disruptions started flooding in from around the world, including from the UK, the Netherlands, and the US: TV station Sky News went offline, and US airlines United, Delta, and American Airlines issued a “global ground stop” on all flights.
The widespread Windows outages have been linked to a software update from cybersecurity giant Crowdstrike. It is not believed the issues are linked to a malicious cyberattack. Engineers from the company posted to the company’s Reddit forum that it has seen “widespread reports of BSODs on Windows hosts” occurring across its software, is working on the problem, and has advised a workaround for impacted systems.
The incident, so far, appears to only be impacting devices running Windows and not other operating systems. It is unclear exactly how widespread the issues are and how long they will take to resolve. Microsoft and Crowdstrike did not immediately respond to WIRED’s requests for comment on the outage.
However, the incident could result in “millions” being lost by organizations impacted who have had to halt their operations or stop business, says Lukasz Olejnik, an independent cybersecurity consultant, who says the Crowdstrike update appears to be linked to its Falcon Sensor product. The Falcon system is part of Crowdstrike’s security tools and can block attacks on systems, according to the company.
“It reminds us about our dependence on IT and software,” Olejnik says. “When a system has several software systems maintained by various vendors, this is equivalent to placing trust on them. They may be a single point of failure—like here, when various firms feel the impact.”
Technical Details
At the heart of this incident was a recent update to CrowdStrike’s Falcon Sensor, a product designed to protect systems from cyber threats. Unfortunately, this update introduced a critical issue that caused Windows computers to crash unexpectedly. The BSOD, a common error screen in Windows, is triggered when the operating system encounters a critical error that it cannot recover from. This particular malfunction led to a series of failures across numerous organizations, with users experiencing boot loops and system lockouts.
Impact on Various Sectors
The repercussions of the outage were felt across multiple sectors. In the aviation industry, a ‘global ground stop’ was implemented, affecting flights and causing significant delays. Airports reported malfunctioning boarding scanners, and train services in the UK were disrupted. Financial institutions faced operational challenges, and media outlets like Sky News struggled to broadcast due to the IT failures. The extensive reach of this outage underscores the interconnectedness of modern technology and the potential for widespread disruption from a single software update.
Response from CrowdStrike and Microsoft
Both CrowdStrike and Microsoft have acknowledged the situation and are actively working to resolve the issues. CrowdStrike’s engineering team is investigating the faulty update and has proposed a temporary workaround for affected users. Microsoft is also taking mitigation actions to address the disruptions caused by the outage. Communication from both companies has been crucial in guiding users through the recovery process, although many are still left grappling with the aftermath of the incident.
FAQs
Q. What caused the Microsoft outage?
A. The outage was linked to a recent update from CrowdStrike that affected Windows systems, leading to widespread crashes.
Q. Which sectors were impacted by the outage?
A. Airlines, financial institutions, and media outlets were among the sectors heavily affected, with significant operational disruptions reported.
Q. How are CrowdStrike and Microsoft addressing the issue?
A. Both companies are investigating the problem and have communicated temporary workarounds to help affected users restore functionality.
