Some of us OG computer users remember Microsoft’s Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). Numerous companies and organizations arrived at work being introduced to BSOD. What happened? A software update from CrowdStrike caused one of the most extensive worldwide information technology outages. This update affected flights, internet users, government agencies, emergency services, the financial industry, and corporations worldwide. It was not a cyber attack but a software update.
Everyday users probably have never heard of CrowdStrike. Crowdstrike is a cybersecurity company that provides cloud security and protection, threat intelligence, and cyber attack response services.
It went awry while deploying a routine update to keep customers safe from hackers. This update affected Microsoft computers. The routine update had code that conflicted with Microsoft Windows code, causing this disruption.
Although CrowdStrike issued another update to correct the error, many companies have to fix the update manually, rolling back the update on individual machines.
This incident shows how much the world depends on technology and what could happen if a potential cyber attack could bring the world to its knees.
Today is a great day to take an extended lunch for the non-technical employees.