Late Thursday going into Friday, reports started coming in from all across the world about an IT-related issue wherein Microsoft devices would crash and be left stuck on the notorious “blue screen of death” – an error message screen that is famously bright blue and occurs when a Windows device encounters a crash, critical failure, or fails to load.
The reports started appearing globally, beginning in Australia but quickly spreading to other regions as servers and computers started crashing seemingly at random. Quickly, the issue was identified not as a Windows error but rather a faulty and buggy update by the cybersecurity software company CrowdStrike of its own software, Falcon. The update is the sole reason for the errors as it causes some computers with the software installed to malfunction into the error screen.
CrowdStrike’s chief executive, George Kurtz, confirmed in a statement that the outage was in fact caused by the faulty content update, completely ruling out any form of malicious wrongdoing by any criminal group.
"CrowdStrike is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts. Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted, This is not a security incident or cyberattack."
He continued to add that a fix was being worked on and that both Mac and Linux users are not affected in any way whatsoever.
"The issue has been identified, isolated, and a fix has been deployed. We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website. We further recommend organizations ensure they’re communicating with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels. Our team is fully mobilized to ensure the security and stability of CrowdStrike customers."
It is impossible to count the amount of damage and disruption that the crash has caused, as people from all walks of life have seen their ability to work and the services they provide disrupted by the outage. Among the measures taken to lessen the impact of the CrowdStrike outage, the U.S. Federal Airspace Agency announced a nationwide ground stop of air traffic on Friday to prevent accidents. Troopers in the state of Alaska also report that some 911 call centers are not working properly.
The problems don’t stop there, as the outage reportedly has also affected healthcare industries in the U.S. and Europe, diminishing the capability of these health services to effectively treat their patients.
What is CrowdStrike?
CrowdStrike is a leading cybersecurity technology company that specializes in endpoint protection and threat intelligence. Founded in 2011, CrowdStrike offers advanced cybersecurity solutions to businesses worldwide, helping them detect, prevent, and respond to various cyber threats. The company’s flagship product, Falcon, is renowned for its cutting-edge technology and ability to provide real-time protection against sophisticated cyberattacks.
What is Falcon?
Falcon is CrowdStrike’s cloud-native endpoint protection platform. It uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect and respond to threats in real-time. Falcon provides comprehensive protection by monitoring all activities on endpoints, identifying malicious behavior, and stopping attacks before they can cause significant damage. The platform’s advanced capabilities include threat hunting, incident response, and automated remediation, making it a critical tool for organizations looking to enhance their cybersecurity posture.
BetterWorld Technology's Preparedness
At BetterWorld Technology, we are prepared to engage in situations with advanced attack surface management and change detection tools like Liongard. This enables us to easily and promptly detect issues like this. These tools enable us to swiftly and effectively detect issues before they interfere with a client's business process. Our proactive approach ensures that disruptions are minimized, and business continuity is maintained even in the face of unexpected challenges.
We leverage our expertise in cybersecurity to provide robust protection and immediate responses to incidents, ensuring that our clients' operations remain secure and resilient. Our team continuously monitors and updates our systems to guard against potential vulnerabilities and to swiftly address any issues that arise. By employing cutting-edge technology and best practices, we offer unparalleled protection and peace of mind to our clients.
Don't wait until an unexpected crisis disrupts your business. Schedule a consultation with BetterWorld Technology today and let us show you how we can protect your operations from the pitfalls even the biggest providers face. Secure your peace of mind with our expert solutions and ensure your business stays resilient against any challenge!