Background
On July 19, 2024, a routine software update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike triggered a massive global outage affecting Microsoft Windows systems. While not a cyberattack, the flaw in CrowdStrike’s update led to widespread disruptions across various sectors.
What Happened?
1. Cause: A defect in one of CrowdStrike’s updates for Windows hosts.
2. Impact: Nearly every major business sector experienced disruptions.
3. Affected Services:
- Airports and Flights: Delays and cancellations due to disrupted airport systems.
- Banks: Some customers unable to access their accounts.
- Retail: McDonald’s stores in Japan closed due to cash register malfunctions.
- Stock Exchange: Services partially disrupted.
- Technology Companies: Starbucks’ mobile ordering system went down.
- Shipping Terminals: Baltic Hub in Poland faced issues.
What was the root cause of the CrowdStrike issue?
The root cause of the CrowdStrike issue was a defect in one of their routine updates for Windows hosts. This flaw triggered a global outage affecting Microsoft Windows systems across various sectors, including airports, banks, retail, and technology companies. Fortunately, CrowdStrike promptly rolled out a fix, and Mac and Linux hosts remained unaffected .
Resolution
CrowdStrike swiftly rolled out a fix, and Mac and Linux hosts remained unaffected. Microsoft confirmed that around 8.5 million Windows devices were impacted but assured users that the problems had been resolved.
