Global IT outage caused by faulty security update impacts millions of devices
Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike has reported that a “significant number” of devices affected by a global IT outage on Friday are now back online. The outage, caused by a faulty security update from CrowdStrike, led to Microsoft Windows computers crashing worldwide.
Microsoft estimates that the incident impacted 8.5 million computers globally, making it one of the worst IT outages in history. Businesses, banks, hospitals, and airlines were among the worst-hit, with some still struggling to fully restore their systems.
CrowdStrike has been working to restore all systems and has apologized for the disruption caused. The company is deploying a new fix to speed up the recovery of computer systems, although the exact number of devices still impacted has not been disclosed.
The outage had far-reaching consequences, with more than 1,400 flights in and out of the US canceled on Sunday. Delta and United Airlines were particularly affected. Health services in Britain, Israel, and Germany also experienced disruptions, with some services being canceled.
The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of global computer networks, emphasizing how a single glitch can cause widespread chaos. Lina Khan, Chair of the US Federal Trade Commission, commented on social media about the fragility of systems in today’s interconnected world.
Despite being a trusted brand in the cybersecurity industry, CrowdStrike’s reputation has taken a hit following the incident. The company serves 29,000 customers worldwide, including major US companies. China, however, was largely unaffected as CrowdStrike is not widely used in the country, and China is less reliant on Microsoft compared to other regions.
