This is the same company that the DNC and Democrats used against Trump. Keep that in mind.
A defective update from U.S. cybersecurity software company CrowdStrike caused Microsoft Windows systems to crash worldwide on Friday, disrupting operations across various industries, including banks, hospitals, 911 call centers, public transit systems, and airlines. Despite a fix being deployed by the afternoon, experts warn that the ripple effects could continue throughout the weekend.
Airlines, banks, hospitals and other organizations chose CrowdStrike to protect their systems from hackers, but it only took one faulty software update to cause global disruptions.
— KTIV News Four (@ktivnews) July 20, 2024
CrowdStrike, which is used by over half of Fortune 500 companies, identified a defect in one of its recent content updates that impacted Microsoft’s Windows Operating System. The company emphasized that the incident was not a security breach or cyberattack. “Earlier today, a CrowdStrike update was responsible for bringing down a number of IT systems globally,” a Microsoft spokesperson said. The company is actively supporting customers in their recovery efforts.
CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz apologized for the disruptions in a post on X, assuring that the issue had been identified, isolated, and a fix deployed. He also warned about potential exploitation by bad actors during such events and encouraged vigilance.
The U.S. experienced significant disruptions, with thousands of flights canceled on Friday morning. American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines grounded flights shortly after Microsoft resolved a cloud-services-related outage affecting several low-cost carriers. Public transit systems also reported temporary impacts, though most resumed normal operations by the afternoon.
Internationally, the outages affected London’s Stock Exchange, caused train delays in the U.K., disrupted medical facilities, and affected airports in Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong, and India. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority experienced temporary system outages but later restored services.
Microsoft Pushed Back Against Regulators Before System Crash #microsoft #windows #crowdstrike https://t.co/Fm7TnpUSNt
— Debra Prentice – 48/100 (@debrapet) July 20, 2024
Despite the widespread disruptions, the economic impact is expected to be minimal. U.S. stocks closed lower on Friday, with CrowdStrike shares dropping 11.1% and Microsoft shares down 0.74%. Analysts predict that the outage will cost CrowdStrike money to fix and may impact customer trust.
Amid the chaos, some companies and individuals tried to maintain a sense of humor. Krispy Kreme gave away free doughnuts, and some Starbucks locations only accepted cash, with customers unable to use the mobile app. Dubai International Airport confirmed it was operating normally after the outage, with affected airlines quickly switching to alternate systems.
Key Points:
- A CrowdStrike update caused a global crash of Microsoft Windows systems, disrupting various industries.
- CrowdStrike and Microsoft assured that the issue was not a security breach and a fix was deployed.
- The outage led to significant disruptions in air travel, public transit, and financial markets.
- Economic impact expected to be minimal, with CrowdStrike and Microsoft stocks experiencing minor drops.
- Companies and individuals maintained a sense of humor amid the chaos, with some offering promotions and others making light of the situation.
Charles William III – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
