The World Went Offline Because of Crowdstrike Server Update

*Global IT Outage Attributed to Defective Crowdstrike Software Update*

A major IT outage causing widespread disruption around the world has been traced back to a defective software update from cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike. The outage has affected critical services in multiple sectors including aviation, banking, healthcare, and media.

Key Impacts:

•⁠ ⁠*Air Travel:* Nearly 1,400 flights were canceled, with airlines like Qantas, Frontier, and Sun Country grounding flights. European carriers such as Ryanair and KLM also reported significant disruptions, with passengers unable to check in and airports like Berlin Brandenburg and Zurich halting operations.

•⁠ ⁠*Microsoft Services:* Users of Microsoft’s Azure and Office365 experienced issues starting around 18:00 ET on Thursday. Microsoft confirmed they are working to resolve the problems affecting access to various services.

•⁠ ⁠*Media and Other Services:* UK broadcaster Sky News went off-air for several hours, and other businesses globally faced severe operational challenges.

Cause of the Outage:

Crowdstrike CEO George Kurtz revealed that the outage stemmed from a defect in a Windows content update. The issue has been identified and isolated, with a fix already deployed. The problem specifically affected Windows hosts, while Mac and Linux systems remained unaffected. This incident was not a security breach or cyberattack but caused significant device malfunctions, rendering many computers and phones inoperable.

Additional Information:

Reports on platforms like Reddit indicated that users were experiencing repeated Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors, with many devices unable to reboot due to the faulty update involving Crowdstrike’s Falcon Sensor.

Company Statement:

Crowdstrike has assured that they are actively working with impacted customers to mitigate the issue and restore normal operations.