Global Microsoft Meltdown Due to Bad Crowdstrike Update
– A faulty software update from Crowdstrike disrupted Microsoft Windows computers globally, affecting airlines, hospitals, and businesses.
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– Crowdstrike deployed a fix, but experts say recovery could be slow as the solution requires manual application on each affected machine.
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– San Jose International Airport displayed the “Blue Screen of Death” on multiple systems, indicating widespread impact.
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– Crowdstrike CEO George Kurtz confirmed the update to fix the error has been shipped, and emphasized it is not a security incident.
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– The fix involves booting Windows into Safe Mode, deleting the affected file, and restarting the machine, as explained by Crowdstrike’s threat hunting director.
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– The outage may have been exacerbated by recent Microsoft Azure cloud service outages, although the connection remains unclear.
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– Social media reactions were swift, with many criticizing Crowdstrike for the disruption and the lack of an immediate apology.
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– The outage became a trending topic on Twitter/X, with AI bots humorously summarizing sarcastic posts from cybersecurity professionals.
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– Health care providers worldwide reported issues, including 911 outages in the US, canceled surgeries in Germany, and rerouted ambulances in Israel.
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NHS England confirmed that appointment and patient record systems were affected, with one hospital declaring a ‘critical’ incident and train operators reporting delays.